Write 3-5 pages about what constitutes a high-quality early childhood program or policy by evaluating a current policy or policy initiative.

Introduction

The preschool years (ages 3-5) are an exciting time of growth and change. Perhaps the greatest areas of change are within the cognitive and language domains. The average 24-month-old has a vocabulary of 250 words and can put two words together in a simple sentence. A four-year-old can speak in multi-word sentences; use prepositions, adjectives, and pronouns; and will, of course, ask millions of questions.

Preschoolers are also growing in terms of their ability to form friendships, play with others, and take those initial, crucial steps toward independence. Rather than simply playing next to another child, like a two-year-old, a four-year-old can create a game with his peers, pretend that a box is a house, and role-play some of the situations that play out in his daily life, like going to the grocery store or to the bank. Play is a critical component of learning for children in this age group, as it helps them make meaning from their worlds and extends their innate curiosity to learn.

Many families begin to consider early childhood education environments for their preschoolers. The research on the benefits of these programs is significant. Children who attend high quality learning programs tend to be able to resolve conflicts well, are self-regulated, and learn to trust other adults in the school setting. Low quality settings, however, may have the opposite effects on preschoolers' growth and development.

Note: Because the assessments in this course move progressively through periods of child development, you are encouraged to complete them in sequential order, 1-5.

Early childhood education (birth-age eight) is at the top of the national agenda, yet many children do not have access to the educational settings that they need. For this assessment, write 3-5 pages about what constitutes a high-quality early childhood program or policy by evaluating the success of an existing initiative.

Address the following:

Describe the characteristics of high-quality early childhood programs.

Discuss and give examples of at least three benefits of early childhood education. Use scholarly research findings to support your position.

Apply psychological theories to a policy or policy initiative relating to early childhood education, such as No Child Left Behind (NCLB), Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Early Intervention, Head Start, Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) or another program of your choosing. Include details about how the program is implemented and what population it aims to serve.

Explain how early childhood education and policy affect the physical, social, and cognitive aspects of child development. Use scholarly research findings to support your position.

You are urged to use the Capella Writing Center to help you develop clear and effective writing. Through the Writing Center, you will be able to receive feedback on your writing, use writing resources, discover new writing strategies, and explore different ways to draft, revise, edit, and proofread your own work.

If you wish, you may use the APA Paper Template [DOCX] to complete your assessment.

Additional Requirements

Written communication: Ensure that your writing is free of errors that detract from the overall message.

APA formatting: Format your paper according to APA style.

Length: Write 3-5 typed and double-spaced pages.

Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.

Portfolio Prompt: You may choose to save this learning activity to your ePortfolio.

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:

Competency 1: Describe physical, social, and cognitive aspects of child development.

Describe the characteristics and benefits of high-quality early childhood programs.

Explain how early childhood education and policy affect the physical, social, and cognitive domains of child development.

Competency 2: Apply psychological theories to topics in child development.

Apply psychological theories to a policy or policy initiative as it relates to early childhood education.

Competency 3: Apply scholarly research findings to topics in child development.

Apply scholarly research findings to topics in childhood education.

Competency 4: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for professionals in the field of psychology.

Write coherently to support a central idea with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a psychology professional.

Use APA format and style.