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☆ Lavish gold-domed penthouse in New York City on sale for $25 million
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( Jacqui Palumbo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Visitors to New York City’s famed Flatiron Building may have noticed the landmark’s lesser-known neighbor — a narrow high-rise that would be modest if not for its extravagant gold dome. Now, the 5,777-square-foot penthouse that occupies the shimmering dome (and the two-story octagonal cupola it crowns) is on sale for $25 million. The five-bedroom, five-bathroom property sits atop 170 Fifth Avenue, which was built in 1898 and predates the Flatiron Building by four years. The building has been standing four years longer than its famous neighbor, the Flatiron Building. Alexander Alland, Jr. /Corbis Historical/Getty ImagesHaving once contained various businesses, including a publishing house, 170 Fifth Avenue was converted into a condominium at the turn of the millennium.

Persons: Eitan Gamliely, ”, Lawrence Treglia, it’s, Treglia, Robert Maynicke, Maynicke, Jay Maisel, Alexander Alland, Gregory C, Carr, ” Treglia Organizations: CNN, Visitors, New York Times, Tiffany Locations: New York, York, preschools, Mozambique

☆ 'Silver economy' boom: China transforms kindergartens into senior care homes as demographic crisis deepens
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( Anniek Bao | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Plagued by shrinking birth rates and a rapidly aging population, tens of thousands of Chinese kindergartens have scaled back operations, closed down entirely or pivoted industries to survive. One preschool in the eastern province of Zhejiang still operates as a daycare, but instead of serving children, they're now catering to senior citizens. Last year, Zhuang Yanfang, 56, repurposed her kindergarten in the city of Jinhua, Zhejiang, into a senior nursing center. Conversely, as preschools suffer, the senior care industry is thriving in China's aging population crisis. "China's aging will only intensify," said Harry Murphy Cruise, an economist at Moody's Analytics.

Persons: Zhuang Yanfang, Harry Murphy Cruise, Cruise Organizations: China's Ministry of Education, China's Communist Party, Office, State Council, Moody's Locations: Zhejiang, Jinhua, China

☆ I'm a high school educator. I wish parents stayed active through school events.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-22 | by ( Jess Decourcy Hinds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

When I was a high school educator, I got a surprising phone call from a parent one morning. I was speechless — I'd never heard someone ask to volunteer at the high school level before. AdvertisementBut I don't see many parents in school hallways in middle and high school. Family involvement dwindles every year after 5th grade, and by high school, I only see parents discussing serious stuff like grades and college admissions. Some parents who usher at plays or poetry readings enjoy it so much, they say they want to go back to high school again.

Persons: — I'd, It's, I've, dwindles, Joni, it's, isn't Organizations: Service, Business

☆ How thousands of Americans got caught in fintech’s false promise and lost access to bank accounts
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-02 | by ( Hugh Son | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Craft had her wages deposited directly into a Yotta account and used the startup's debit card to pay for all her expenses. CNBC reached out to fintech customers whose lives have been upended by the Synapse debacle. Instead of spending years and millions of dollars trying to acquire or become banks, startups got quick access to essential services they needed to offer. They account for 60% of all new fintech account openings, according to data provider Curinos. The FDIC's exact language about whether fintech customers are eligible for coverage: "The short answer is: it depends."

Persons: Natasha Craft, Craft, fintech, Adam Moelis, Sankaet Pathak, Michele Alt, Scott Sanborn, Sanborn, LendingClub, she's, Rick Davies, Taylor Stitch, " Davies, He's, he's, Davies, hasn't Organizations: FedEx, CNBC, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, Synapse, Indiana FedEx, Disney, Bank, Trust, JPMorgan Chase, Klaros, PayPal, Getty, Financial Technology Association, D.C, Block, Regulators, Federal Reserve, FDIC, Oakland, San, OCC Locations: Mishawaka , Indiana, Craft, Oakland , California, New York City, Santa Barbara , California, Maryland, Bristol , Connecticut, Seattle, Tennessee, Yotta, Boston, Washington, fintechs, Silicon, San Francisco

☆ Jeff Bezos dumped over a million Amazon shares to fund his preschool nonprofit, filings show
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos sold more than a million shares last week, per an SEC filing. Some of the money will be used to fund the billionaire's chain of nonprofit preschools. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementJeff Bezos sold around 1.1 million Amazon shares last week — and used the money raised to fund his "Montessori-inspired" nonprofit preschools, SEC filings show. The world's third-richest man sold 431,426 shares on May 29 and 667,260 shares on May 30, with the $117 million raised from the second of those sales going to Day 1 Academies, a chain founded by Bezos.

Persons: Jeff Bezos, —, Bezos Organizations: SEC, Service, Business

☆ Eva Longoria and Admiral Bill McRaven to receive $100 million Bezos Award
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Jake Tapper | Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

In 2021, the inaugural recipients of the prize were Van Jones, a lawyer and CNN commentator, and chef José Andrés, each of whom received $100 million. They also serve as national spokespeople for the Brain Health Project, which focuses on brain health and brain performance with a concentration on veterans. Longoria, who starred in the television series “Desperate Housewives,” has focused on education and entrepreneurship in Latino communities. The Eva Longoria Foundation aims to connect Latinos and Latinas in lower-income areas with peer mentors, and Longoria has a start-up fund for Latino-owned small businesses. Bezos and Sánchez pledged $100 million to recovery efforts in Maui after the devastating wildfires in 2023, though the donation has come under scrutiny.

Persons: Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sánchez, Bill McRaven, Eva Longoria, Bernard Arnault, Van Jones, José Andrés, Dolly Parton, McRaven, “, Lauren, Jeff, ” McRaven, Longoria, ”, ” Longoria, Bezos, Warren Buffett, Melinda French Gates, Bill Gates, MacKenzie Scott, Sánchez Organizations: New, New York CNN, Amazon, University of Texas, Bloomberg, CNN, Warrior Foundation, Brain Health, “, Fund Locations: New York, Bezos, Maui

☆ I moved from the US to Germany 11 years ago. A lot of things have surprised me about living here with my kids.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Naomi Kaye Honova | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

In Germany, kids are given a lot of independence and they go outside all year. Cargo bikes, which have large baskets or carts, are particularly popular among German families with young kids. In Germany, kids are independent at a young ageGermany has been a culture shock for me when it comes to kids' levels of independence. Preschool isn't super academic focused — and kids learn about taking care of their teethMany kids brush their teeth in German preschools. AdvertisementAnd, in German preschools, kids are taught about dental hygiene.

Persons: I've, —, It's, Elva Etienne Organizations: Service, Child Protective Services Locations: United States, Germany

The requirement could raise wages by as much as $10,000 for Head Start teachers over the next seven years, the agency estimates. Head Start teacher turnover has doubled over the last decade, with the federal government estimating 1 out of every 5 Head Start teachers left their classroom last year. As many as 275,000 infants, toddlers and preschoolers are on waitlists nationwide, according to the National Head Start Association. Taxpayers spend about $12 billion for Head Start to serve roughly 1 million children. Daniel was “jumping up and down” when she read the administration's proposal to raise wages and add heartier benefits for Head Start staff.

Persons: Biden, Anna Markowitz, ”, That's, Renee Daniel, Daniel, we’re, ” Daniel, Katie Hamm, ” Hamm, Markowitz, “ It’s, ” Markowitz Organizations: WASHINGTON, Human Services, Start, University of California Los, Start Association, Taxpayers, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Community Action Agency, Head Start, Amazon, Human, UCLA Locations: University of California Los Angeles, Cincinnati

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' fund to support homeless families announced $117 million in new grants on Tuesday to organizations across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, which is a part of a $2 billion commitment Bezos made in 2018 to support homeless families and to run free preschools. That brings the amount granted by the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund to benefit homeless families to almost $640 million. The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte received a second grant this year after first being awarded $5 million by the fund in 2018. The Bezos Day 1 Families Fund did not give a timeframe for when the pledged $2 billion would be distributed or what portion would go to homeless families. Last year, Bezos gave away $122.2 million and has pledged around $12.8 billion in charitable donations, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Persons: Jeff Bezos, Bezos, Lauren Sánchez, Deronda Metz, ” Metz, Amanda Andere, “, can’t, Andere, Sánchez, Jacklyn Bezos, Miguel, Fred, Dolly Parton, José Andrés, Van Jones Organizations: Fund, Salvation Army, Greater Charlotte, Girls, Urban Institute, National Coalition for, Homeless, Housing, Urban Development, Amazon, CNN, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Associated, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: Puerto Rico, Seattle, Maui

☆ I'm a recruiter at Meta. These are the top perks that win tech workers over — and the one they don't seem to care about.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Ananya Vahal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Glaze Martillano, a tech recruiter at Meta who lives in Toronto, about the benefits Meta employees are offered. VacationsWhen joining a big tech company, most candidates have high expectations when it comes to healthcare, competitive equity packages, vacations, and bonuses. Most importantly, they get to work on different projects with Meta employees based on their personal interests and skills. Companies talk about the importance of mental-health care, but there's still a stigma attached to getting help, so employees often don't take advantage of it. Forty percent of employers say they believe workers leave their jobs to work at companies that offer better benefits and perks.

Persons: Glaze, Martillano, —, It's, Meta, I've, we've, We've, it's, they'd, there's Organizations: Meta, Talent, Service, Facebook, Tech Locations: Toronto, Canada, United States, Menlo Park , California

☆ New SAT Data Highlights the Deep Inequality at the Heart of American Education
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Claire Cain Miller | Francesca Paris | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +13 min

When we account for how few poor students take the test, by looking at all students, a new and greater disparity emerges. It’s a reflection of an inequality in American education that starts long before high school. New SAT Data Highlights the Deep Inequality at the Heart of American EducationNew data shows, for the first time at this level of detail, how much students’ standardized test scores rise with their parents' incomes — and how disparities start years before students sit for tests. And in the last five decades, as the country has become more unequal by income, the gap in children’s academic achievement, as measured by test scores throughout schooling, has widened. Parenting in places with less income inequality and more public investment in families is more playful and relaxed, research shows.

Persons: ”, Sean Reardon, Reardon, “, —, John N, Friedman, Brown, Raj Chetty, David J . Deming, Deming, Ann Owens, Owens, Rich, Chetty, “ It’s, Nate G, Hilger, Drew Angerer, Robert Putnam, “ ‘, you’re, “ They’ve, they’ve, Jesse Rothstein Organizations: ACT, of American Education, Opportunity, Harvard, Stanford Graduate School of Education, Chetty, University of Southern, Research, The New York Times, University of California Locations: University of Southern California, Berkeley

☆ I'm a mom in Japan, home to the world's healthiest kids—4 things Japanese parents do differently to raise successful eaters
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Yuko Tamura | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Shokuiku encourages parents and schools to teach kids where their food comes from and how it affects our mind and body. This concept has been an integral part of Japan's culture, and it's a big reason why we're home to some of the world's healthiest children. As a mother raising a young daughter in Japan, here's what Japanese parents do differently to raise happy and adventurous eaters:1. Some preschools have kids harvest vegetables to eat for lunch, while in elementary schools, they learn about the farms that produce vegetables, fish and other foods. While many preschools also provide lunches, homemade bento lunches can play an important role in promoting shokuiku.

Persons: Sagen Ishizuka, Shokuiku, bento, daughter's bento, Yuko Tamura, bok choy Organizations: UNICEF, European Union, OECD Locations: Japan, shokuiku

☆ A Treehouse Builder Who Celebrates Impermanence
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Tom Vanderbilt | Josh Robenstone | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The sensation is a bit unnerving and invokes one of the laws of treehouse building: Heights you wouldn’t think twice about in a concrete structure suddenly become imposing when you’re on a branch. Taka, as everyone calls him — or sometimes Koba-san — is Japan’s best-known treehouse builder. He’s built treehouses for affluent Chinese clients and treehouses for preschools — draws for parents anxious about their children’s detachment from nature. The most modest of his structures, he says, is four square feet; the largest, about 270 square feet. He’s sometimes referred to as a “treehouse architect,” but he doesn’t care for the phrase — “architect” connotes not only degrees and building codes but other constraints, too, like permanence.

Persons: Takashi Kobayashi, He’s, preschools —, ” Organizations: CAN, Treehouse Creations Locations: Tokyo, Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Covid

☆ This Singaporean is raising her kids in Sweden. Here are 3 parenting habits she picked up
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Goh Chiew Tong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

They love life a little bit more because they know how to enjoy it," said Min, a Singaporean raising her kids in Sweden. For the past nine years, Min, a Singaporean, has been traveling and working in various places — from South Korea to Spain and now, Sweden. Free playLiving in Sweden brought Min and her family much closer to nature — her kids attend forest school on the weekends. "In Sweden, children have a lot of say, they are respected and they have a voice — just like adults," Min said. But in Sweden, kids can choose whether they want to use the time to get some shuteye — or play.

Persons: Min, We've, — Organizations: Autonomy Locations: Sweden, South Korea, Spain, Stockholm, Singapore, preschools

☆ A government shutdown would be a 'gut punch' to Head Start programs that serve 10,000 low income children
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Head Start programs, which serve over 10,000 children across the nation, would lose funding. If the shutdown isn't averted, Head Start programs serving more than 10,000 children would immediately lose federal funding, including Ferguson's program. This is a particular concern with nearly 20% of Head Start staff positions vacant nationwide, according to the National Head Start Association. The 16-day October 2013 shutdown was the last to hit Head Start hard, affecting 19,000 children and shuttering programs in several states. Laketia Washington, a mother of eight whose 3- and 5-year-olds attend Head Start programs in Tallahassee, Florida, lamented the turmoil as she rang up customers at a discount store.

Persons: —, Monette Ferguson, Ferguson, Tommy Sheridan, Sheridan, Bobby Kogan, Lori Milam, she's, Philip Shelly, Nikki Budzinski, Maureen Coffey, Lynn Karoly, John, Laura Arnold, what's Organizations: Service, Alliance for Community Empowerment, Start Association, Sunday, Center for American Progress, West Virginia, Democratic U.S ., Start, Center for American, Rand Corp, Tim Center, Capital Area Community Action Agency Locations: Connecticut, Florida , Alabama , Connecticut, Georgia , Massachusetts, South Carolina, Illinois, Minnesota , New York, Maine, Houston, Florida, Laketia Washington, Tallahassee , Florida

If the shutdown isn’t averted, Head Start programs serving more than 10,000 children would immediately lose federal funding, including Ferguson's program. That's what worries Lori Milam, executive director of the West Virginia Head Start. This is a particular concern with nearly 20% of Head Start staff positions vacant nationwide, according to the National Head Start Association. Another pot of COVID-19 relief funds that helped Head Start ran out in the spring. Laketia Washington, a mother of eight whose 3- and 5-year-olds attend Head Start programs in Tallahassee, Florida, lamented the turmoil as she rang up customers at a discount store.

Persons: Monette Ferguson, “, ”, Ferguson, Tommy Sheridan, Sheridan, Bobby Kogan, Lori Milam, she's, Philip Shelly, Nikki Budzinski, Maureen Coffey, “ It’s, Lynn Karoly, John, Laura Arnold, what’s Organizations: KANSAS CITY, Alliance for Community Empowerment, Start Association, Sunday, Center for American Progress, West Virginia, Democratic U.S ., Start, Rand Corp, Tim Center, Capital Area Community Action Agency Locations: KANSAS, Mo, Connecticut, Florida , Alabama , Connecticut, Georgia , Massachusetts, South Carolina, Illinois, Minnesota , New York, Maine, Houston, Florida, Laketia Washington, Tallahassee , Florida

☆ China bill aims to make preschool more accessible amid flagging birth rate
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The draft Preschool Education Law includes measures to curb excessive profit-seeking by preschool providers, the state-backed China news service reported. Children applying for preschool places should not be subject "to any form of examination or testing except for necessary physical examinations," the official Xinhua news agency reported. The draft law comes as China's fertility rate is estimated to have dropped to a record low of 1.09 in 2022, one of the world's lowest alongside South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. Concerned about its rapidly ageing population, Beijing is urgently trying an array of measures to lift the birth rate, including financial incentives and improved childcare facilities. The draft preschool law will now be reviewed by the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

Persons: Huai Jinpeng, Farah Master, Conor Humphries Organizations: Xinhua, of, South, National, Thomson Locations: Xujiashan, Haitang, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan province, China, HONG KONG, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing

Seoul, South Korea CNN —Raising a child in South Korea is no easy task. As a result, the hagwon industry in South Korea is massive, and profitable. Of the nearly 60,000 middle and high school students surveyed nationwide, almost a quarter of males and one in three females reported experiencing depression. Activists say South Korea needs deeper change instead, such as dismantling entrenched gender norms and introducing more support for working parents. Some agreed the private education sector needed reform, but doubted the effectiveness of this move.

Persons: Lee Ju, Lee, “, ” Lee, Anthony Wallace, Jung Yeon, Lee –, Yelim Lee, hagwons, ”, Critics, Kim Hong Organizations: South Korea CNN, South Korean, College, Education, Getty, South, Ministry of Education, Organization for Economic Co, Development, OECD, Ministry of Health, Twitter Locations: Seoul, South Korea, AFP, South Korea's, South, Haiti, Iceland, United States, United Kingdom, Korean, Korea, Japan

☆ There's no such thing as a dumb question ... unless you're interviewing someone for a job
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Hiring is never easy, but it's particularly difficult on Wall Street. Emmalyse's story is worth a read not only for Smart's advice but his candidness, a dying trait on Wall Street. These cloud tools are proving to be game changers. Fidelity and State Street are rolling out annuity options within their 401(k) products, The Wall Street Journal reports. As the weather starts to warm up, plenty of people are making the switch to iced coffee.

☆ The 10 most prestigious private preschools in Miami — and how to get in
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Valeria Avirett is an education consultant and the founder of Miami School Advisors. She says as Miami has become more desirable, spots in top preschools are harder to land than ever. "People are moving to Miami seeking a lifestyle and not necessarily moving for a job," Valeria Avirett, an educational consultant and the founder of Miami School Advisors, told Insider. "I struggled to find the right school for my own children in Miami — Westminster Christian School, which we all loved! Avirett's team released the first edition of "The Miami Preschool Guide" in spring last year, which profiles 101 preschools in the most popular areas of Miami.

☆ Lauren Sánchez on going to space, philanthropy and trying to bring light to the world
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( Chloe Melas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —For four years, Lauren Sánchez has been quietly working behind the scenes to help Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos, strategically give away his vast wealth to a variety of causes. In their first sit-down interview as a couple at their sprawling Washington, D.C. home, Sánchez got candid about her philanthropic projects, space travel and what makes her relationship with Bezos work so seamlessly. “The work that we’re doing with the Bezos Courage and Civility Award I think needs to have a voice,” Sánchez said. Lauren Sanchez visits the US-Mexico border. Sánchez and Bezos said they wanted to bring a “little bit of light” to the people who use unity instead of conflict to resolve issues.

☆ The 10 most prestigious preschools in London and how to get in, according 2 early-education consultants
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Lauren Crosmedlicott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +18 min

Finding the right early-education setting for your child in London may feel like a minefield to new parents. Nurseries aren't just evaluating children in the application process but also assessing the parents during the decision-making process, Baron said. The school emphasizes on its website that children who attend are accepted into the top selective preschools in London. "There's nothing to say they can't be moved onto more of a prep school," Smith said. The admission process: Children can start at Ducks as early as 6 months of age, but most start at 2.

☆ The 12 most prestigious private preschools in New York City — and how to get in
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The private preschool landscape in New York City is arguably the most competitive in the nation. Education consultants Wendy Levey and Cindy Chanin selected the 12 most prestigious in the city. New York City has arguably one of the most competitive landscapes for private preschools in the nation. Why parents fight for a spot knowing the odds often comes down to reputation — maybe celebrities or well-known business leaders bring their kids there, or, possibly more importantly, the preschool's notorious for landing its graduates spots at the most prestigious private schools in the city. Levey and Chanin selected 12 preschools in Manhattan and Brooklyn that, in their experience, are the most prestigious programs around.

☆ The 11 most prestigious preschools in Los Angeles — and how to get your child in
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Creativity, the cultivation of curiosity, and learning through play are central to most of the best preschools' missions and philosophies. "Your student won't stand out if they are a get-in-line and 'keep your head down' kind of child," Chanin said. Every school has its own particular way of filling their classes, she said, and many admissions directors are seeking diversity and a range of personalities. "Admissions directors have indicated that it's 'insane' this year." To find the best option for your family, Chanin selected 11 elite preschools throughout the LA area that, in her experience, offer the best programs around.

☆ Satanic panic is making a comeback, fueled by QAnon believers and GOP influencers
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-15 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Brandy-Zadrozny-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Brandy Zadrozny | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +23 min

Utah County Attorney David O. Leavitt speaks on July 31, 2019, in Provo. The accusations were part of a new case from Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith. Discussion about satanism and satanic abuse has increased in recent years, according to data provided to NBC News by Zignal Labs, which analyzes social media conversations. Popular culture and social media have also ferried ideas about satanism and widespread child abuse from fringe to the mainstream. (Anti-LGBTQ politicians and activists have equated LGBTQ people with predators who abuse children as part of a “gay agenda,” the well-worn panic that the gay rights movement’s true motivation is recruitment.

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