Positive physical and mental stimulation in a child[base ']s first years lays the foundation for success in school and beyond. With three out of four American children cared for outside the home by age four, clearly the quality of those early learning experiences is critical. However, experts say the vast majority of children currently receive low-quality care in poorly designed programs with inadequately trained staff. United Way of Miami-Dade is committed to elevating the quality of early childhood education for all children, through a new, comprehensive approach to early learning.

The United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education, which officially opens on February 22, 2007 in Miami, is an innovative learning, teaching, research, and training facility all in one. Unlike any other facility in the country, the Center provides comprehensive training and information to adult-learners, including parents, educators, business leaders and researchers, as well as the best available care and education to young children ages six weeks to five years old.

United Way recruited some of the top minds in the field of early care and education to serve on the Center[base ']s national advisory board. Currently the board is comprised of 41 of the nation[base ']s top children[base ']s advocates and educators, including Marian Wright-Edelman, Children[base ']s Defense Fund; Howard Gardner, PhD, Harvard Graduate School of Education; Sharon Lyn Kagan, EdD, The Yale Child Study Center; David Lawrence Jr., The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation; and Donna Shalala, PhD, University of Miami.

http://www.unitedwaymiami.org/
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