This presentation provided an overview to the Joint Legislative Committee on Virginia’s Preschool Initiative of national data on state pre-k eligibility policy and considerations for policy makers in ensuring that high need children have equitable access to quality preschool programs. Lori Connors-Tadros conducted this presentation at the first meeting of the committee charged with providing recommendations to the Governor by November 2015 for reforming the Virginia Preschool Initiative to increase accountability, flexibility and innovation, in partnership with schools and private providers.

This talk was presented by Tom Schultz at the National Association of Elementary School Principals Conference in Long Beach, CA on June 30th with co-panelists Kristie Kauerz from the University of Washington and Cindy Bagwell from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The presentation was part of a strand of sessions to highlight NAESP’s initiative to build the leadership capacity of their members in early childhood education, based on their recent publication Leading Pre-K-3 Learning Communities: Competencies for Effective Principal Practice.

This presentation discusses a strategic approach to financing quality early care and education programs, including five key steps to strategic financing and examples of funding strategies used by states to support sustainability.  Lori Connors-Tadros presented this information to CA, GA, RI, and NC, Race to the Top- Early Learning Challenge grantees, at the Sustainability Peer Learning Exchange hosted by the Early Learning Challenge TA Center in Atlanta.

This presentation explores the qualities of great leaders and leadership, types of leadership, pathways and pitfalls to inclusion leadership, and building leadership within a program and state, as well as Vermont’s experience. Jim Squires co-presented with Janice Crow (Windsor Southeast Supervisory Union, VT) and Kate Rogers (Vermont Agency of Education) at the 2015 National Inclusion Institute.

This presentation includes material to understand the components of a statewide comprehensive assessment system for all children birth to kindergarten, identify the current status of kindergarten assessments as well as commonalities/variations across states and challenges in developing kindergarten entrance assessments, identify challenges and opportunities for including children with disabilities in statewide assessments, and understand the experiences of the State of North Carolina in implementing a kindergarten assessment. Jim Squires presented with Cindy Bagwell (NC Department of Public Instruction), Mary McLean (Head Start National Center on Quality Teaching and Learning/University of Florida) and Catherine Scott-Little (UNC-Greensboro) at the 2015 National Early Childhood Inclusion Institute.

These slides review program requirements related to assessment, a comprehensive framework for aligned assessment, and recommended practices. Jim Squires presented with Mary McLean (Head Start National Center on Quality Teaching and Learning/University of Florida) and Catherine Scott-Little (UNC-Greensboro) at the 2015 National Early Childhood Inclusion Institute.

This presentation provides an overview of the Early Childhood Data Collaborate issue brief and offers perspectives from two states (GA, PA) on their data linkage efforts.  Tom Schultz gave this presentation at the National Head Start Association Annual Conference.

This talk presents what research had to say about the practice of retention, and shares state and local approaches, including early identification and intervention strategies. Jim Squires supported the Southeast Regional Comprehensive Center’s online Community of Practice for SEA early education leaders during this interactive session.

This presentation introduces new Indistar®Early Chldhood Indicators, which provide an opportunity for stakeholders to use indicators and the associated research to align early childhood education with school improvement efforts. The presentation includes information on how the indicators were selected and how they can be used.  Diane Schilder and Melissa Dahlin gave this presentation at the Fifth Annual Indistar Summit, sponsored by the Center on Innovations in Learning, and hosted by the Arkansas State Department of Education and the South Central Comprehensive Center.

This presentation focuses on ways that school districts can develop kindergarten policies to both support alignment across the early grades and ensure effective transitions for children and families into elementary school. The session highlights ten policies that support, promote, and enhance the learning and joy of learning for all kindergarten children, leading to positive child outcomes for all. Panelists share how districts and school are enacting and implementing these policies, with a discussion of strategies, approaches, and outcomes. Melissa Dahlin and Shannon Riley-Ayers gave this presentation at the Ounce of Prevention’s Excellence in the Early Grades District Leadership Summit with Vincent Costanza (New Jersey Department of Education), Anne Arnold (Highline Public Schools, WA), and Rick Falkenstein (Kingwood Township School District, NJ).

This presentation highlights research on training DLL teachers, describes best practices for teachers and administrators to support development of English and children’s home language, shares a tool for coaching and professional development of teachers, and discusses policy trends and recommendations for improving outcomes of dual language learner children.

During this session at the Title I Conference, presenters Libby Doggett (USED), Lenay Dunn and Carlas McCauley (Center on School Turnaround), and Jana Martella (CEELO) provide an overview on how early learning strategies can advance achievement as a school improvement intervention, along with key research on the impact of high quality early learning programs.