Child Development

Helping Kids Get Ready to Learn
by Fred D. Baldwin

Alabama's new pre-kindergarten initiative offers quality early childhood education to preschoolers across the state, preparing them for success in school and beyond.

The Family-School Connection
by Fred D. Baldwin

Family involvement in school helps students succeed, according to both national research and the firsthand experience of families, students, and educators in Owsley County, Kentucky.

Appalachian Scene: Norma Gray: Leading the Way for Children
by James E. Casto

When educators talk about successful child development programs, this is what they have in mind—making a positive difference in the lives of young children and their families. For 27 years, River Valley Child Development Services has been making that kind of difference for children and families in communities throughout southern West Virginia.

Kids on Campus
by Carl Hoffman

An award-winning summer program in Ohio's Athens County sends elementary school kids to a college campus for six weeks of tutoring, self-esteem building, nutritious meals, and fun.

Kids Get a Smart Start in North Carolina
by Carl Hoffman

Communities in Appalachian North Carolina are creating local "Partnerships for Children" under a statewide program that helps young children start school ready to learn.