Workshop 2, Part 2 of 2 "The Development and Implementation of Birth through Grade Three Initiatives in Massachusetts" March 20, 2015 (Worcester, MA) Saeyun Lee, Policy Director, Executive Office of Education for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Amy O'Leary, Director of Early Education for All Campaign, Strategies for Children

1.  
Early Educators Leadership Institute
Friday, March 20, 2015
Saeyun Lee and Amy O’Leary

2.  National Governors Association (NGA) Early Learning Policy
Academy
- Primary Goals and Strategies
 Key Outcomes
- Building the Foundation of Future Success for Children
from Birth through Grade 3
- Framework for a Comprehensive Birth through Grade 3
Policy Agenda
3/20/2015 MA Dept. of Early Education and Care

3.  Build awareness and commitment across key stakeholders to
support a continuum of high-quality early learning
opportunities from birth through 3rd grade
 Develop and begin to implement a state-specific action plan to
implement aligned birth to 3rd grade learning standards by:
1) Strengthening the effectiveness of early childhood and
early elementary educators; or
2) Developing and appropriately using assessments across
the birth to grade 3 continuum
3/20/2015 MA Dept. of Early Education and Care

4. Develop and implement a robust birth through grade 3
standards and assessment system by:
 Identifying the foundational experiences and essential
competencies that will lead to college and career success;
 Enhancing our early learning standards; and
 Exploring developmentally appropriate assessment
strategies for birth through kindergarten as well as the early
elementary grades.
3/20/2015 MA Dept. of Early Education and Care

5.  Identification of essential competencies and foundational
experiences for all children
 Enhancement of our early learning standards to increase
their alignment with our pre-K through grade 12 Curriculum
Frameworks and ensure that they include social and
emotional learning domains from birth through kindergarten
 Exploration of birth to kindergarten assessment strategies
as well as strategies for the early elementary grades, with
the goal of building a coherent policy framework for the
development of a birth to grade 3 assessment system
3/20/2015 MA Dept. of Early Education and Care

6.  Creation of the document entitled Building the Foundation
of Future Success for Children from Birth through Grade
3, which identifies essential experiences and competencies
that all children should demonstrate
 Creation of the framework for comprehensive birth through
grade 3 policy agenda
3/20/2015 MA Dept. of Early Education and Care

7. Learning and Growth Across Multiple Domains
Approaches to Play and
Learning
Cognitive Development
and General Knowledge
Language and
Communication
Development
Physical Development
and Well-Being
Social and Emotional
Development
3/20/2015 MA Dept. of Early Education and Care

8. 3/20/2015 MA Dept. of Early Education and Care

9.  Collaboration, Passion, and Commitment Among Key Partners:
Departments of Early Education and Care, Elementary and Secondary
Education, and Higher Education; Readiness Centers Network; CONNECT
Higher Education Partnership; and Strategies for Children
 Increasing Interest in and Commitment to Early Education
Multiple stakeholders in Massachusetts (including educators from birth
through postsecondary education, community and business partners, local
and municipal officials, legislators, and parents and family members) are
committed to working together to improve learning outcomes for children
from birth through grade 3
 Strong Policy Foundation and Governance Structure
Ongoing implementation of Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge and
K-12 Race to the Top strategies and a public education governance system
that was designed to increase alignment and coherence across the early
education, K-12, and higher education sectors
3/20/2015 MA Dept. of Early Education and Care

10.  Changing the Discourse – Building awareness of the importance of establishing a
foundation for college and career success starting at birth, creating a common
language for multiple stakeholders, and building consensus about the foundational
experiences and essential competencies
 Translating Concepts Into Practice – Using the Building the Foundation
document to inform the development and implementation of policy but also
enhance the quality of instruction; the interactions among adults, children, and
peers; and the provision of educational and other services to children and families
 Sustainability – Maintaining momentum despite institutional, organizational,
resource, and other changes
 Building Fiscal Capacity – Identifying short- and longer-term sources of funding
to support the development and implementation of innovative strategies
 Leveraging Community Partnerships – Creating ongoing opportunities to share
expertise and resources, scale up effective practices, and strengthen partnerships
across the state
3/20/2015 MA Dept. of Early Education and Care

11.  Consider the factors that contributed to our success and
the challenges and opportunities discussed on the
previous slides.
 Are these familiar to you?
 Are there others you would add?
 Other thoughts?
 Who else needs to know this information / context?
 What else do you need to know?
 How will YOU incorporate and use this information?
3/20/2015 MA Dept. of Early Education and Care

12. Questions?
3/20/2015 MA Dept. of Early Education and Care

13. Guiding Questions
 What are your thoughts about the Building the Foundation
document and the comprehensive policy agenda? Are there
issues and topics that are not being addressed?
 Given your discussion this morning about the work that
resonates most deeply with you, what impact if any could the
Building the Foundation document and the policy agenda
have on your work?
 How can community partners work together more effectively
to support the implementation of birth through grade 3
initiatives?
3/20/2015 MA Dept. of Early Education and Care

14. Guiding Questions
 What are the current strategies that are being implemented in
your community, and how can we increase alignment and
coherence across multiple initiatives?
 What are the policy gaps and issues that must be better
addressed?
 What are three strategies that could be implemented, and
how can regional partners work together and with state
entities to advance our work?
3/20/2015 MA Dept. of Early Education and Care

15. Thank You!
3/20/2015 MA Dept. of Early Education and Care