Founder of Children`s Creative Learning Centers to Moderate Expert Panel on Expanding Early Childhood Education at Milken Institute Global Conference

--(Business Wire)--
CCLC:

WHAT: On Wednesday, April 29,
2009 at the Milken
Institute Global Conference
in Los Angeles, Fran
Durekas, Founder and Chief
Development Officer of
CCLC, will moderate a panel
of distinguished education
experts during the session:
"Early Childhood Education
at the Crossroads." Durekas
has more than 20 years'
experience in early
childhood education and
care, is an active member
of the National Association
for the Education of Young
Children and a board member
of both the California
Polytechnic State
University's Child
Development Department and
the Eco-Healthy Child Care
Advisory Committee. In
addition, she has been
certified through Boston
College's Work/Life
Program.

Among the panelists is Glen
Thomas, Secretary of
Education, State of
California, who will
present a case study on
early childhood educational
programs in California and
the debate surrounding
funding of Pre-K education.

Other panelists include:
-- Ken Jaffe, president and
executive director,
International Child
Resource Institute

-- Eric Karolak, executive
director, Early Care and
Education Consortium

-- Roger Neugebauer,
president, World Forum
Foundation

-- Dennis Vicars, executive
director, Professional
Association for Childhood
Education Alternative
Payment Program

The panel will offer
insights into the current
state of early childhood
education, challenges
surrounding the nationwide
implementation, assessment
standards and funding of
these programs. In
addition, they will examine
early childhood education
as an investment tool used
by top employers to attract
and retain employees and to
prepare the future
workforce.

WHY: The importance and long
-term benefits of providing
children with education
early in life is beyond
debate. Nevertheless, how
best to extend this
education to more American
families, define standards
requirements, and fund
programs have continued to
be sources of contention.
As an expert in early
childhood education, Ms.
Durekas will facilitate a
discussion with various
education thought leaders
about these challenges and
enable participants to put
forth possible solutions to
these pressing problems.

For more information visit www.cclc.com or call 1-888-909-CCLC.

About CCLC

CCLC is a national child care provider dedicated to developing unique and
effective employer-sponsored child care programs. Founded in 1992, CCLC
currently operates more than 100 employer-sponsored child development centers.
We offer high-quality child care programs for children ages six weeks to 12
years through on-site or near-site child development centers, before and after
school programs, summer camps and specialized dependent care programs such as
priority access and back-up child care. We have extensive experience providing
quality, convenient and affordable child care programs for working families,
creating professional work environments for early childhood educators and
helping our client realize their goals for recruitment, retention and work-life
benefits. CCLC has been named to the Center for Companies That Care 2009 Honor
Roll, and received the 2009 Moving Into the Future Award from The Conference
Board`s Work Life Leadership Council.

YRG
Marion Margiotta, 503-542-3462
mmargiotta@yrgcommunications.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009