The AFT, joining with Save the Children's efforts to actively engage students in the fight to end child poverty, is developing classroom activities and resources for pre-K through 12th-grade teachers that echo Save the Children's core values and support its Valentine's Day card contest.

The AFT Educational Foundation is looking for civics teachers to participate in an exciting new project to build an international democracy memory bank. The Civic Voices project, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, asks students to gather oral history interviews from inspiring citizens who helped advance human rights and freedom around the world.

H1N1 resources are now available the AFT Web site. The LeaderNet section includes information geared more toward leaders, while the information on the AFT's public site is for all members.

The National Center for Children in Poverty's (NCCP) newest web-based tool - the Basic Needs Budget Calculator - shows how much a family needs to make ends meet. Basic Needs Budgets are provided for different family sizes and types and are currently available for 70 localities across 11 states.

New Tool Calculates Family Budgets

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This is a good source for a research-based early literacy program and mediated curriculum in multiple languages.

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Learn about a great new resource from the Office of Head Start!

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Are you interested in becoming a registered early learning apprentice so that you can EARN while you LEARN?  Discover how the Washington Early Care and Education Apprenticeship Program combines on-the-job training with theoretical instruction to produce certified child care specialists and educational paraprofessionals.

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DEL/CCEL Begins Forms Update
The Child Care and Early Learning section of the new Department of Early Learning has begun updating its forms.

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Policymakers and legislators in Washington State are currently engaged in a major redesign of the child care system in this state. Learn more about the Early Learning Council, its work, meeting dates, as well as download materials from previous meetings.The Early Learning Council is also referred to as the Early Learning Advisory Committee.

http://www.washingtonlearns.wa.gov/el/

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Grants can be given to locals that need legal defense. One-third is paid by AFT Washington and one-third is paid by AFT.

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The new Department of Early Learning pulls together under one agency several early learning programs with state government. Find out more.

 

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Keep up with the Leading Voice for the Early Childhood Workforce, "First Class Teachers," by signing up for their newsletter at http://firstclassteachers.org/

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