The Buffett Early Childhood Institute is accepting applications from birth through third grade early childhood professionals in central and western Nebraska for a five-month workgroup February–June 2024. The workgroup will meet outside regular duty hours to guide the development of an Essential Child Experiences Instructional Toolkit. Combining professional learning with experiential learning, the workgroup will design resources for an instructional toolkit. The toolkit will focus on equity, quality, and continuity for children from birth through Grade 3.    

In this program workgroup members will be designing a toolkit for the six essential child experiences. The six essential child experiences are how young children develop and achieve desired learning outcomes. The approach will encourage a shift in thinking, guiding educators and leaders to examine instructional practices through the lens of the child while focusing attention on closing gaps in opportunities for young children who experience persistent disparities.    

The kickoff meeting will be in February, and sessions will occur on Saturday mornings on the following dates:  

• March 2 (on Zoom) 
• March 23 (on Zoom) 
• April 6 (in Kearney) 
• April 20 (in Kearney)
• May 4 (in Kearney) 
• May 18 (in Kearney) 
• June 8 (in Kearney) 
  
  

Applications open Nov. 1, 2023, and close on Jan. 3, 2024. Only 20 participants will be accepted. Recipients must work in central or western Nebraska to be eligible for a $500 stipend.