Preschool

Washington, DC - 03/19/2008 - State-funded preschools served over one million children last year, yet public pre-K was unavailable for most 3- and 4-year-olds, according to the annual survey released today by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER).

Funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, The State of Preschool 2007 ranks all 50 states on the percentage of children served and spending per child. It also compares the number of quality benchmarks each state meets for the 2006-2007 school year. The survey found that enrollment, quality and state spending per child increased.    » read more »

3/19/2008 -- Today, the National Institute for Early Education Research released its 2006-2007 "State of Preschool Yearbook," the most comprehensive source of information about the state of early childhood education in the U.S. This year’s yearbook reveals that state Pre-K programs have grown to the point where they are now serving more than one million students.

About 22% of 4-year-olds are being served by state preschool programs, and 15% of three year-olds have access to either state or federal programs, such as Head Start. In addition, the per-pupil funding level for early childhood education has grown for the first time since 2002-2003.    » read more »

Nick Jr.'s New 20-Episode Half-Hour Interactive Series to Teach Preschoolers Mandarin Language for the First Time on Television Ni Hao, Kai-lan Premiere to 'Sneak Peek' on Multiple Platforms including Video On Demand, iTunes(R), Wireless Carriers and Nick Jr. Video

NEW YORK, Jan 15, 2008 -- This February, millions of preschoolers will learn that "Ni Hao" means "Hello" in Mandarin Chinese, as Nickelodeon Preschool introduces them to Chinese culture and language on Nick Jr.'s groundbreaking new animated series Ni Hao, Kai-lan.    » read more »

Nick Jr. Orders 20 New Episodes of Critically Acclaimed Live-Action Preschool Music Series

BURBANK, December 6, 2007 -- Disney Channel will debut the second seasons of the #1 series for preschoolers, "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," and its hit music-filled series "Johnny and the Sprites" in January.

New episodes of "Johnny and the Sprites," which combines the music talent of Broadway's finest with endearing puppet characters, will premiere SATURDAY, JANUARY 19 (7:30 a.m., ET/PT).    » read more »

New Episodes of Favorite Hit Preschool Series to be Featured

BURBANK, October 29, 2007 -- Disney Channel ushers in winter with a "Snow Day Saturday" featuring seasonal episodes throughout the Playhouse Disney programming block on SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1 (6:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ET/PT), including new episodes of "My Friends Tigger & Pooh," "Johnny and the Sprites," and "Higglytown Heroes," as well as a new episode of popular short-form series "Lou and Lou: Safety Patrol."

The festive programming line-up includes:    » read more »

Premiere is part of Halloween-Themed Weekend on Playhouse Disney

BURBANK, October 1, 2007 -- Disney Channel will debut the second season of its hit multicultural preschool series "Handy Manny" on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27 (10:30 a.m. ET/PT) during the learning-focused Playhouse Disney programming block. Wilmer Valderrama stars as the voice of handyman Manny Garcia, a helpful, determined young man who, with the assistance of his eclectic set of talking tools, is the town's expert when it comes to repairing all that's not working, even friendships among neighbors.    » read more »

- The Bunnies Are Coming To Disney Channel!
- Series Is Disney Channel's First Full Scale International Production
- Emphasizes Learning Through Humor And Music

- 'Jambo' From Africa! on the New Hour-Long Go, Diego, Go! TV Movie 'Safari Rescue,' Premiering Columbus Day, Monday, October 8 on Nick Jr.
- Nick Jr.'s Go, Diego, Go!: Safari Rescue DVD Created by Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and Distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment, to be Released Tuesday, October 9

BURBANK, September 17, 2007 -- Disney Channel will debut the third season of "Charlie and Lola," the charming preschool series about a pair of supportive siblings, on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13 (11:30 a.m., ET/PT) during the learning-focused Playhouse Disney programming block. The new season consists of 14 episodes in which considerate big brother, 7-year-old Charlie patiently helps his feisty yet endearing 4-year-old sister, Lola through preschool-age challenges such as school, coping with change, fear of thunder, first sleepovers and going to the eye doctor.    » read more »

Month-long Promotion to Drive Viewers Online to Vote for their Favorites from the new Animated Music Series

BURBANK, August 27, 2007 -- Disney Channel's newest hit preschool series, "My Friends Tigger & Pooh," a Top 10 series with Kids 2-5, will expand to a daily telecast across the learning-focused programming block Playhouse Disney beginning TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 (weekdays at 8:00 a.m. and weekends at 8:00 and 8:30 a.m., ET/PT). The announcement was made today by Nancy Kanter, Senior Vice President, Original Programming, Disney Channel. The series, which has already been picked up for a second season, is produced by Walt Disney Television Animation.    » read more »

- The Backyardigans' 'Super Secret Super Spy,' Full of Espionage, Exotic Locales and Tickle Torture Premiering Monday, September 17 at 7:00 P.M. on Nickelodeon
- Recording Artist Cyndi Lauper Performs Original Theme Song "The Lady In Pink"
- On The Backyardigans TV Movie Which Goes Undercover In London, Switzerland, Miami and The Caribbean
- Nick Jr.'s The Backyardigans: Super Secret Super Spy DVD, Created By Nickelodeon Home Entertainment And Distributed By Paramount Home Entertainment, To Be Released Tuesday, September 18

More than doubles the number of children served to 29,500 -Includes quality ratings, promotes training of Pre-K teachers

August 16, 2007 -- RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced details of his Start Strong pre-kindergarten proposal at the Governor’s Summit on Early Childhood Education, unveiling a voluntary program that gradually will expand access to high-quality preschool for more of Virginia’s four-year-olds.    » read more »

August 14, 2007 -- Preschoolers are more introspective than we give them credit for, according to new research by Simona Ghetti, assistant professor of psychology at UC Davis.

Ghetti and her co-investigator, Kristen Lyons, a graduate student in psychology at UC Davis, will present their findings Friday morning, Aug. 17, at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association in San Francisco.    » read more »