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Alaskans across the state made their voices heard during the 2011 legislative session and told legislators why it is critical for Alaska to invest in early learning. They called legislators, sent e-mails, and testified before committees, in person or via teleconference. Results were mixed. Two bills (to extend Denali KidCare to more children and to Read More

In early March, Best Beginnings held a Founders & Friends lunch in Anchorage. Our purpose was to thank our longtime supporters, welcome newer friends, and give everyone a snapshot of how far we’ve come in just over four years. We just didn’t realize it would be so much fun, too. Thanks to loyal friends and Read More

I have a long personal and professional history with early childhood and education issues. Even so, I find that our work here sometimes produces delightful ah-ha moments, when something I’ve long known takes on a different light. My latest example of this relates to phonemic awareness, one of the critical building blocks to literacy. A Read More

With one-on-one coaching and modest funds, the quality of early care and early learning programs outside the home can improve rather quickly. This has been the experience in the state of Washington and might provide encouragement for Alaska to follow suit. When child care providers get one-on-one coaching and modest funds to make changes to Read More

Once or twice in our lives, if we’re lucky, we might get a front-row seat at a movement in the making. In the nascent stages, we can’t know how the movement will evolve. Will it fall flat and dissipate? Or will the right combination of sustainable energy, leadership, and timing result in something much bigger? Read More

Our fifth grandchild arrived just a few weeks ago, and as I watch my daughter, and help when I can, I’m struck once again by how hard it is to be a new parent. While I empathize with my daughter, I revel in being a grandmother. And apparently, we’re not the only species with this Read More

Advocates for early childhood are becoming much more effective in the public policy arena. Best Beginnings is proud to be part of the Alaska Early Childhood Public Policy Group, which includes thread, Alaska Head Start Association, the Alaska Infant Learning Professional Association, and Alaska AEYC. Broad-based, grassroots support gets the credit for what looks to Read More