| Why K-12 should be thinking ‘Birth-3rd’ |
“Policy is changing for K-12 schools,” notes Chris Martes, president and CEO of Strategies for Children. “Here in Massachusetts, districts and schools are unpacking newly released MCAS and PARCC scores and deciphering what these scores mean for learning and accountability. At the same time, Massachusetts is developing a next-generation MCAS that will be administered in the spring. “On the federal level, the “No Child Left Behind” law was reauthorized as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA); and state officials are working on our plan for this new law. “All of this is activity is important, but K-12 can’t achieve the success we all want without integrating early learning.” Read Chris’s full statement. |
| Election 2016: Make young children a priority |
Securing a bright future for young children secures a bright future for Massachusetts. Preparing young children to become productive, engaged adults is good for children, families and taxpayers. Election day is getting closer. The Massachusetts state election and the presidential election take place on Tuesday, November 8. Visit our election webpage for important voting information, links, and advocacy messages to use with candidates this election year. |
 Check out our Eye on Early Education blog for recent stories you may have missed. |
Yale Looks at Implicit Biases Among Preschool Teachers, October 12 A Report Points to a Broken Child Care System — and Calls for Badly Needed Repairs, October 4 How Three States are Building P-3 Systems, September 20 Podcasts Link Business and Early Childhood, September 15 New Bedford Welcomes Children and Families to Kindergarten – At the Zoo, September 13 New America Looks at the Use of Technology in Early Literacy, September 8 |
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Jessica Geilfuss @jegeilfuss Oct 15 Massachusetts K-12 @MASchoolsK12 Oct 14 Kids Count @aefkidscount Oct 3 Early Education for All @EarlyEd4All Sept 22 Massachusetts EEC @MassEarlyEdCare Sept 9 Grade-Level Reading @readingby3rd Sept 6 |
notes from Amy By now, most of you are probably done with the sound-bites, talking heads, and attack ads surrounding the presidential election. But please – PLEASE – don’t let this turn you off from political and civic engagement, particularly in your own community. As advocates for young children and families, we know the importance of engaging elected officials at the state and local levels. All politics is local --so it is important for young children and their needs to be high on the priority list of school committee members, city councilors, mayors, and state legislators. Recent polls show that voters of all political stripes strongly support public investments in high-quality early education, both here in Massachusetts and nationally. But support does not always translate into action. Leveling the playing field for all young children will not happen without increased attention to early learning from our elected officials at every level of government. So please vote this year. And, pay attention to local and state races as well as the presidential race. There are many ways to engage candidates on the issue of early education and care, visit our election webpage for more information. Join us in our effort, and thank you for your continued advocacy.
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Are you ready for Election Day on November 8? Do you have a plan to vote? Do you know where to go? 
