FirstDay Learning

Creating happy & confident teachers.

FirstDay Learning empowers educators by providing science-based professional development to address classroom challenges, especially problematic behavior. We offer trauma-informed strategies and tools that help teachers build happier, more inclusive environments where all children can thrive. Our evidence-based solutions support educators, coaches, and administrators in fostering lasting change in early childhood education.

09/08/2026

This week’s Good News in Early Education highlights recent research within the field of early childhood education, noting the positive impact of pre-k access, strong parent-teacher relationships, and effective leadership in early education programs.

Test Scores
A study in San Antonio highlights the correlation between a student’s consistent pre-k attendance and their third grade test scores.
https://www.expressnews.com/news/education/article/staar-study-early-childhood-education-san-antonio-22280781.php

Relationships
Recent research highlights the importance of parent-teacher relationships as an indicator of student success.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10643-026-02200-0?

Leadership
The European Education Area Working Group shares findings after spending two years studying early education leadership and its impact on program and student success.
https://school-education.ec.europa.eu/en/discover/news/how-leadership-strengthens-early-childhood-education-and-care-systems

For Good News in Early Education, practical tips and resources, and upcoming training dates, sign up for our newsletter: https://www.firstdaylearning.com/ -form-ns

08/21/2026

This week’s Good News in Early Education highlights how early childhood programs across the globe (from Western Australia to all the way to Connecticut!) are meeting the needs of families in their communities.

Australia:
A new early learning center in Derby, Australia is being developed with its community in mind, centered around culturally responsive, community-led practices and serving children from birth to age five.
https://ministers.education.gov.au/walsh/delivering-new-early-learning-and-family-centre-derby

Connecticut:
The Board of Education in Greenwich, CT changes plans to include preschool programming in their upcoming elementary school renovation project, increasing access to early childhood learning opportunities in the community.
https://www.greenwichtime.com/news/education/article/greenwich-school-riverside-pre-k-project-classroom-22282462.php

Washington:
Schools in Washington introduce apprenticeship programs to train teachers, addressing the challenges that schools and educators face in navigating the teacher shortage.
https://hechingerreport.org/early-childhood-educator-apprenticeships-offer-an-answer-to-child-care-shortages/

For Good News in Early Education, practical tips and resources, and upcoming training dates, sign up for our newsletter: https://www.firstdaylearning.com/ -form-ns

08/07/2026

This week’s Good News in Early Education highlights organizations across the globe that are allocating resources to improve early childhood programs and prioritize children’s social, emotional, and academic development.

Pakistan:
A strategic education initiative in Pakistan increases early childhood enrollment from 175,000 to 4.5 million over six years. https://www.unesco.org/sdg4education2030/en/knowledge-hub/margins-mainstream-transforming-early-childhood-care-and-education-ecce-45-million-children-south

Ireland:
Ireland preschools transition to full-time, increasing access to consistent early learning experiences for thousands of children. https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/news/education-minister-announces-expansion-pre-school-education-provision

China:
China increases its preschool education development budget by 38% to better support families and improve programs. https://nypost.com/2025/04/16/us-news/mayor-adams-reverses-167m-in-cuts-to-already-bloated-nyc-public-schools-budget-to-expand-3-k-pre-k-special-education/

For Good News in Early Education, practical tips and resources, and upcoming training dates, sign up for our newsletter: https://www.firstdaylearning.com/ -form-ns

07/21/2026

This week’s Good News in Early Education celebrates the impact of educators building strong relationships with students, and how those relationships inspire success long after students leave our classrooms.

Inspiration:
A teacher reflects on how her own childhood experience with Head Start fostered her passion for education.
https://www.businessinsider.com/head-start-low-income-student-owe-success-program-2025-4

Mentorship:
A preschool teacher inspires her student’s teaching career and later becomes her classroom assistant.
https://people.com/woman-s-former-preschool-teacher-now-88-becomes-her-classroom-assistant-exclusive-11996632

Support:
How one student’s Head Start education launched the foundational support system she needed to succeed.
https://www.brighthorizons.com/newsroom/archive/2026-bright-horizons-40-years-impact-hannah

For Good News in Early Education, practical tips and resources, and upcoming training dates, sign up for our newsletter: https://www.firstdaylearning.com/ -form-ns

07/01/2026

This week’s Good News in Early Education celebrates several grants awarded to support the growth of early education programs throughout the country.

In Arkansas, the state department of education will use their $14.7 million dollar grant to expand early childhood programs and “ensure every kid gets the attention they deserve.”

In New York, a daycare receives state funding to open a new facility and expand their reach in the community.

In Tennessee, the Frist Foundation provides funding to support the Nashville Early Education Coalition’s work of strengthening and expanding access to high-quality education through “advocacy, workforce support, and community collaboration.”

For Good News in Early Education, practical tips and resources, and upcoming training dates, sign up for our newsletter: https://www.firstdaylearning.com/ -form-ns

Arkansas:
https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/arkansas-awarded-preschool-development-grant/91-1bc1c97a-a7de-4a0b-a186-c403fb424d1d

New York:
https://www.wwnytv.com/2026/01/07/daycare-gets-grant-expand-into-black-river-region-addresses-childcare-shortage/

Tennessee: https://www.cfmt.org/stories/the-frist-foundation-awards-5-million-to-propel-early-education-initiatives-in-nashville/

06/18/2026

This week’s Good News in Early Education highlights the critical role that educator training plays in improving the availability and quality of early childhood programs.

In North Carolina, the Department of Health and Human Services is partnering with 16 higher education institutions to launch a new educator training program that will address the state’s childcare staffing shortage.

In California, San Francisco childcare centers utilize apprenticeship programs to create sustainable opportunities for high-quality educator training.

In Rhode Island, a new study shows that high-quality teacher training programs not only improve academic and SEL outcomes in students, but may also lead to an improvement in students' executive function.

For Good News in Early Education, practical tips and resources, and upcoming training dates, sign up for our newsletter: https://www.firstdaylearning.com/ -form-ns

North Carolina:
https://www.the74million.org/zero2eight/north-carolina-announces-short-term-training-for-future-early-childhood-teachers/

California
https://hechingerreport.org/one-city-finding-early-educators/

Rhode Island:
https://www.uri.edu/news/2026/06/study-shows-gains-in-preschoolers-executive-function-with-additional-teacher-training/

06/16/2026

We had a great first session at the NISHDA conference working with educators on strategies to improve engagement and readiness for children with Autism. They were on their feet, sharing stories, sharing ideas. We cannot thank them enough--we learned so much from them and from their experiences with their programs!

06/15/2026

We are so excited to be part of the annual National Indian Head Start Directors Association Conference in Costa Mesa, CA this week! We will be working with teachers, coaches, and leaders in our Autism Strategies and Family Engagement Workshops. We can't wait to hear from programs from across the country--it's going to be an exciting week!

06/05/2026

This week’s Good News in Early Education highlights the work that educators, researchers, and advocates are doing to improve early childhood outcomes across the country.

In Colorado, the state’s universal preschool program continues expanding early education access, serving 70% of the state’s eligible children.

During a TIME100 Panel discussion this spring, four experts highlighted the significant role of early childhood education and proposed strategies for increasing our investment in these programs.

In Michigan, a team of researchers studying chronic absenteeism found that intentional and time-intensive home-visits may play a role in increasing student attendance.

For Good News in Early Education, practical tips and resources, and upcoming training dates, sign up for our newsletter: https://www.firstdaylearning.com/ -form-ns

Colorado: https://governorsoffice.colorado.gov/governor/news/colorado-universal-preschool-expands-access-while-providing-quality-early-childhood-0

TIME100:
https://time.com/collection/time100-summit-gala/2026/rethinking-early-education/

Michigan:
https://hechingerreport.org/proof-points-michigan-absenteeism/

05/15/2026

We've had a great time working with educators during the Georgia Head Start Association Spring Conference. We loved hearing from teachers, coaches, and leaders from across the state - a fantastic couple of days!

Georgia Head Start Association, Inc.

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