Current Issues in Early Childhood

Early Childhood Policy in Illinois and Washington

Nov. 2–3, 2009

Experts in early childhood development, education, and policy presented talks on timely topics for an audience of Chicago’s civic leaders.

A distinguished panel discussed wide-ranging topics in the field of early childhood, starting with funding and the stimulus bill’s affects on early childhood education and concluding with a call for raising awareness of the importance of early care and education. Panelists included:

• Harriet Meyer, president, Ounce of Prevention Fund
• Cornelia Grumman, executive director, First Five Years Fund
• Barbara Taylor Bowman, Erikson cofounder, Irving B. Harris Professor of Child Development, and chief early childhood education officer for the Chicago Public Schools.
• Samuel J. Meisels, president, Erikson Institute
• Jana Fleming, moderator, director, Herr Research Center for Children and Social Policy, Erikson Institute