The focus on high-quality universal preschool at the Council in 2004 is sponsored by a grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts as part of theTrusts' initiative to advance high quality prekindergarten for all of the nation's three and four year olds through objective, policy-focused research; state public education campaigns and national outreach. CCSSO will educate and serve its membership to build support among the chiefs for expansion of high-quality, universal preschool opportunities for 3 and 4 year olds.
As a primary activity of the project, CCSSO has enlisted a cadre of champions from among its member superintendents and commissioners to oversee and advise the project and to serve as national, regional, and state spokespersons for expanded quality and access to early childhood education. Activities and objectives of the project include the following:
 Regional Meetings : CCSSO will host three regional meetings in 2004-2005 on successful practices in promoting quality and access to preschool. The first regional meeting was held for the western states on October 12-14, 2004, in Portland, Oregon. The second was held on May 17-19, 2005 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
These regional meetings are designed for small teams of education leaders from the states consisting of the chief state school officer and at least two influential district superintendents with the goal to develop a plan for advancing universal pre-kindergarten in their states. Chief state school officers will select local superintendents for the state team based on the superintendent’s ability to convey the pre-kindergarten message to other local education officials. Information on the dates and location for the eastern states regional meeting will be forthcoming.
Click here to see information on these regional meetings-- including the agendas, presentations, and resources.
Advancing Quality Preschool for All: CCSSO hosted a daylong forum on early education entitled Advancing Quality Preschool for All on Sunday, March 21, 2004. This was a pre-conference forum that took place in Washington, DC in conjunction with the Council's Legislative Conference. See information on the forum including the agenda, summary notes, and presentations.
Empowering state leadership: Focus on early childhood education each time the Council membership convenes in 2004-2005 and through the duration of the project. See the Council events calendar.
Building a cadre of champions: Enlist a group of chief state school officers with strong records of support and action for early education to serve as spokespersons among its membership and throughout the nation. Meet the Champions.
Managed by fact: Design a communications strategy to include media interviews, op-editorials, and letters to the editor, and the development and dissemination of a set of evidence-based reports, research, and resources on early education, via print and electronic media. Read our publications.
Partnering for change: Provide technical assistance and support to the chief state school officers and their staffs in affiliated states as they become effective partners in their respective ongoing early education state campaigns. In addition, CCSSO will include early childhood education as a priority for its work with other key K-12 partner organizations and alliances, with the objective of supporting and promoting universal, high-quality preschool. Visit our partners.
Project Staff
Jana Martella, Project Director, janam@ccsso.org
Tracy Runfola, Senior Associate, tracyr@ccsso.org
Kathy Rodgers, Administrative Assistant, kathyr@ccsso.org |
