As part of the Connections to the Earliest Years initiative, in February 2007, state education agency leaders from the Council’s extended learning and early childhood task forces met to continue and deepen shared taskforce goals to support states in their efforts to improve the availability and quality of early and extended learning opportunities as a strategy for increasing education opportunity and student achievement; to hear from research, policy and program experts on the connections between early childhood and extended learning opportunities; and to consider the role of early childhood and extended learning opportunities in supporting school improvement. Click below to view the resources from the meeting.
Agenda
Children Continually Learning from Birth and Beyond—Findings from the Early Head Start Study--Rachel Cohen, Senior Research Scientist, ACF-HHS
Students Continually Learning Throughout the School Day and School Year—Presentation from--Priscilla Little, Associate Director, Harvard Family Research Project
Meeting Summary
THE BIRTH TO FIVE POLICY ALLIANCE
With its connections to the Birth to Five Policy Alliance, the Council has continued its focus on the key objectives of its Policy Statement on Early Childhood and Family Education, and on the vitally connected earliest years of learning.
The Alliance was established in 2005 to promote state policies which help to shift the odds for America's youngest children. The focus is to narrow the achievement gap by supporting families in their parenting role and assuring positive early learning and development opportunities for at-risk children aged 0-5 and their families by promoting four broad policy goals:
Increase parent engagement and capacity to support early learning--Policy approaches should support early learning within families include child development and parent education, family literacy, and other ongoing family supports.
Expand effective programs to enhance early learning--Policy approaches should aim to improve the learning experiences delivered in the multiple settings where young children are served, including child care, Head Start and Early Head Start; and pre-kindergarten programs.
Improve teacher knowledge, skills and retention--Policy approaches should aim to maximize the impact of early childhood learning environments by preparing teachers with the appropriate education and skills to promote enriched early childhood development and early learning.
Link to and leverage services such as nutrition, early health and mental health and early intervention --policies approaches should support access to services such as basic nutrition, preventive health care, early screening and follow up, and social and emotional supports for children and families.
The Birth to Five Policy Alliance is supported by the Buffett Early Childhood Fund, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and one other funder. The Alliance is one part of an overall strategy supported by the BUFFETT EARLY CHILDHOOD FUND, which also focuses on expanding and applying the knowledge base as well as developing model early childhood programs.Key partners in this endeavor include the partner organizations within the Alliance, building capacity and policy focus among key stakeholders. These partners include:
Center for Law and Social Policy
Committee for Economic Development
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids
National Center for Children in Poverty
National Conference of State Legislatures
National Governors Association
National Scientific Council on the Developing Child
Ounce of Prevention Fund
United Way of America
ZERO TO THREE
BORN LEARNING!
Research has shown that children are "born learning," and that their healthy development does not easily divide into ready age categories but instead takes place on a continuum that is best supported by integrated and connected services over time.
With an initial grant from the A. L. Mailman Foundation and continuing support from the Buffett Early Childhood Fund, CCSSO is connecting the early childhood education work of the Council to the earliest years of learning--for children aged 0–3. This project is intended to identify, analyze, and advance successful practices in making those essential connections—between the school and children from infancy to pre-kindergarten—and to support the Council in its initial call to action, within its policy statement on early childhood and family education, to promote the creative development of infants and toddlers. The resulting research, analysis, and products are intended to assist chief state school officers and their local education partners in implementing the policy foundation necessary to support school-based and linked programming for infants and toddlers, under the assumption that such evidence-based practices will promote school success for those children in their education systems.
The Council continues to expand this work by developing an ongoing focus on these promising connections as they support learning and development for infants and toddlers who have been identified as having a disability, whose families are in poverty, or who come from cultural and linguistic diversity,
The Council Connections to the Earliest Years Project convened a roundtable of state and local superintendents, principals, and other education leaders, along with experts in early childhood development. The results of the roundtable which took place September 2005 in Washington, DC included an issue brief of findings and promising practices. Click here to view the issue brief, "Council Connections to the Earliest Years."
For additional information, contact Jana Martella, director of early childhood and family education, at janam@ccsso.org or at 202-336-7057.
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CCSSO is continuing to request information regarding "Connections to the Earliest Years"--We are seeking promising state and local programs that link schools to and involve them in practices that support the development of infants and toddlers. There is no deadline on receipt of information, but guidance on what to submit can be found on the original RFI. You will also be referred to a request for similar information from
Zero to Three.
Press here to view the RFI. |
KEY RESOURCES
ZERO TO THREE -- with a "mission to promote the healthy development of the nation's infants and toddlers by supporting and strengthening families, communities, and those who work on their behalf.
OUNCE OF PREVENTION -- investing in "the healthy development of at-risk infants, toddlers and preschool children, using an innnovative cycle of family-focused programs, research, training, policy analysis and advocacy to help young children succeed in school and throughout life.
NGA CENTER FOR BEST PRACTICES of the National Governors Association -- with activities focused on early childhood leadership, school readiness and the "First Three Years: A Governor's Guide to Early Childhood."
NATIONAL INFANT AND TODDLER CARE INITIATIVE of the US Health and Human Services (HHS) Department's Administration for Children and Families (ACF).
EARLY HEAD START NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER in the Head Start Bureau of the US HHS-ACF.
REPORTS OF NOTE
Click on the pictures below to access these recent reports on supporting healthy development and learning for infants and toddlers.
 Building Bridges
from Prekindergarten
to Infants and Toddlers:
A Preliminary Look at
Issues in Four States
A DISCUSSION PAPER
April 2004
Zero to Three
 Science, Policy and the
Young Developing Child
Closing the Gap
Between What We Know
and What We Do
by Jack P. Shonkoff, M.D.
Ounce of Prevention
 The real question is how
to use the available funds wisely.
The best evidence supports the
policy prescription:
Invest in the Very Young."
by James J. Heckman, PhD
Ounce of Prevention
 Starting Smart
How Early
Experiences Affect
Brain Development
Zero to Three and
Ounce of Prevention
 EARLY HEAD START RESEARCH
Making a Difference in the Lives
of Infants and Toddlers and
Their Families: The Impacts of
Early Head Start --Executive Summary
Head Start Bureau
 Toward Early Success
Bridging Policies for Infants,
Toddlers and Preschoolers
Issue Brief
(pp 41-44, Governor's Forum on
Quality Preschool)
NGA Center for Best Practices
Toward Early Success
Including Babies and Toddlers in Early Education
Presentation by Joan Lombardi, PhD
Governor's Forum on Quality Preschool
NGA Center for Best Practices
 Beacon of Hope
The Promise of
Early Head Start for
America's Children
Book Summary
Zero to Three Press
EARLY HEAD START--
Project Staff
Jana Lumley Martella, Director, 202-336-7057, janam@ccsso.org
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