DVAEYC launches Beyond Babysitting A new documentary about why quality childcare matters

United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey DVAEYC launches Beyond Babysitting A new documentary about why quality childcare matters Saturday, February 23 Bryn Mawr Film Institute 824 West Lancaster Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 11:00AM- 11:30AM Networking & light refreshments 11:30AM - 12:00 Screening 12:00PM - 12:30PM Panel Discussion VIEW TRAILER REGISTER FLYER The Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children (DVAEYC) launches Beyond Babysitting, Saturday, February 23 at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute. This new documentary, produced by DVAEYC, follows several early care and education professionals at Brightside Academy over the course of three years to document how a child care program moves from low-quality (babysitting) to become a high-quality early education program. The film explores why the stakes are so high for children who are at-risk of educational failure and for society as a whole. "The film truly makes the case for the critical importance of investing in high-quality early education," said Jill Michal, President and CEO of United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. As a participant in Success by Six®, an initiative of UWGPSNJ, Brightside Academy was eligible to receive quality improvement resources. Success by 6® helps child care centers throughout the region to improve the quality of early education that they provide through: training teachers to ensure they are engaging children in effective ways; educating parents on their crucial role in supporting and nurturing their child's learning experience; and, shaping the social and emotional development of each child to equip them for success in school and later life. The event begins with a coffee reception at 11:00AM and the screening begins at 11:30AM. A panel discussion, led by Daylin Leach, State Senator (D-Montgomery & Delaware Counties), will then examine the challenges and opportunities of making early childhood education a priority. The four panelists are: Seth Williams, Philadelphia District Attorney Mark Kehoe, Chief Executive Officer, Brightside Academy Jeanette Brown, Journalist and One Smart Momblogger Tyrone Scott, DVAEYC Community Services Program Manager and Beyond Babysitting narrator “Research overwhelmingly shows that at-risk children who attend high-quality early learning programs do better in school; are less likely to repeat a grade or require special education services; are more likely to graduate high school and attend college; have higher earnings; and are more productive citizens,” said Sharon Easterling, Executive Director, DVAEYC . “We produced the film to help the public understand that our child care system must be transformed into an early learning sustem, if we have any hope of being successful in K-12 and closing the achievement gap. About DVAEYC DVAEYC, the Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children, is the regional association for early childhood education professionals and works to improve educational opportunity for young children (birth-eight) in Southeastern Pennsylvania.