On the issue of standards in the early childhood educational setting Delila Vasquez said,"...at least it puts a goal in front of the educator as to where they want children to be and what we want them to acquire through their experiences in early childhood. But it does not take in account where the children are coming front, how much they know, or what they should learn"(Laureate Education, 2011).
In Brazil, Núcleo Ciência Pela Infância (NCPI) includes the Center on the Developing Child, Fundação Maria Cecilia Souto Vidigal (FMCSV), the Medical School of the University of São Paulo, Insper, Sabará Children’s Hospital, and the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies at Harvard have made a collective effect to work together in change their early childhood education programs.
Through these efforts they have successful in implementing a science and research based movement in Brazil where they are training those who make policies on how to apply development science in order to make more informed policy changes (2019).
NCPI's belief is that "...applied sciences are vital to the strengthening of public policies, programs, and professional practices, which focus on improving the quality of life of young children, especially those in vulnerable situations. We understand that by directing the content to leaders and decision-makers in the public sector and civil society in general, we can foster the use of the knowledge in practice" (2019).
I believe that the United States should take this same approach. We as parents, and educational professionals rely on policy makers to give us funding for our programs, yet they are not educated in child development, therefore they do not understand the needs of children from and education stand point. It is not fair or equitable to fund all programs at the same amount based on the standards that are in place. Policy makers that make funding decisions for educational programs should take a page out of Brazil's book and educate the policy makers on child development.
Resources
Harvard University. (2019, February 25). Brazil: Núcleo Ciência Pela Infância (NCPI). Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. https://developingchild.harvard.edu/about/what-we-do/global-work/nucleo-ciencia-pela-infancia/.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). Issues and trends in the early childhood field: Excellence and equity of care and education for children and families—Part 1. Baltimore, MD: Author.