Early Education Programs and Children of Immigrants: Learning Each Other's Language
Aug 31, 2010 | Hannah Matthews and Danielle Ewen
This paper was written for the Urban Institute's roundtable on Young Children in Immigrant Families and the Path to Educational Success, held on June 28, 2010. It discusses the federal and policy landscape for serving young children of immigrants in early care and education and includes policy recommendations for improving access for immigrant families. The full report is available on the Urban Institute website.
Children from immigrant families are the fastest growing group of children in the United States. High-quality child care and early education opportunities will be critical to these children's success in school and in life. Yet, the early experiences of children in immigrant families are as diverse and varied as immigrant families themselves. While many immigrant families face numerous barriers to accessing high-quality child care and early education for their young children, these barriers are not insurmountable. The paper discusses state and local solutions to improving access for immigrant families and specific strategies and collaborations among providers, policymakers, and immigrant-serving organizations.