A Tribal Guide to the Good Start, Grow Smart Early Learning Initiative

Contents: Early Childhood Education Reform Timeline, Good Start, Grow Smart Summary and Background, Frequently Asked Questions, State Contact Information (PDF Version 2,178 KB, Word Version 113 KB)

Early Childhood Education Reform Timeline

2001
July
First Lady Laura Bush hosts Summit on Early Childhood Cognitive Development in Washington, D.C.

2002
January
President Bush signs the No Child Left Behind Act into law.

April
The Bush Administration introduces the Good Start, Grow Smart Early Learning Initiative.

Summer
The Head Start Bureau introduces the Early Learning and Literacy Effort (referred to as the “STEP Training”).

Summer/Fall
The Child Care Bureau hosts annual Tribal Cluster Trainings across the country titled “Working with Providers to Enhance the Quality of Tribal Child Care Programs.” The focus was literacy.

Fall 2002 thru Spring 2003
The Child Care Bureau, State Child Care Administrators and the Tribal Child Care Technical Assistance Center (TriTAC) participate in the U.S. Department of Education’s Early Childhood Educators Academies, which were conducted regionally across the country.

2003
May
The Child Care Bureau presents the Good Start, Grow Smart Initiative to Tribes at the 9th National American Indian and Alaska Native Child Care Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

Spring
The Child Care Bureau adds a new section to the State CCDF two-year plan requesting State progress and planning on the key GSGS components (Early Learning Guidelines, Professional Development, and Coordination).

Spring/Summer
ACF Regional Offices hold tribal child care meetings that include presentations and discussions around Good Start, Grow Smart .

July
States submit new CCDF two-year plans — including the new GSGS section — to ACF Regional Offices and the Child Care Bureau.

Summer/Fall
The Child Care Bureau hosts annual Tribal Cluster Trainings across the country titled “Creating a Locally Designed Professional Development System to Support School Readiness and Retention.” The focus was professional development, school age care and collaboration.

2004
February
The Child Care Bureau holds a special Tribal Cluster Training in Albuquerque, New Mexico titled “Leading Together through Collaboration and Coordination.” Topics included building skills for collaboration/ coordination with school districts, State government leaders, and other Tribal and local early childhood programs.

April
The Child Care Bureau hosts the 10th National American Indian and Alaska Native Child Care Conference in Phoenix, Arizona that includes sessions on the three primary Good Start, Grow Smart components—Early Learning Guidelines, Professional Development, and Coordination—and their applicability in tribal communities.

Spring/Summer
ACF Regional Offices hold tribal child care meetings that include presentations and discussions on Good Start, Grow Smart.

Summer
The Child Care Bureau hosts Tribal Cluster Trainings across the country that focus on building collaboration/coordination skills similar to the Tribal Cluster Training held in February 2004.

Good Start, Grow Smart Summary and Background>>

This Guide was developed under PSC Contract Number 233-03-0021, Task Order Number 2 for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services/Administration for Children and Families Child Care Bureau.
March 2004