Supporting High-Quality Early Learning Systems

at the

U.S. Department of Education

Early Education Research: What Does It Show

National Education Writers Association

65th National Seminar University of Pennsylvania

May 18, 2012

Steven R. HicksSpecial Assistant on Early Learning

Office of Early LearningU.S. Department of Education

“To win the future, our children need a strong start.”

--Secretary Arne Duncan

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Early Learning Research

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The Big Three

Abecedarian Intervention Project

Perry Preschool Project

Chicago Child-Parent Centers

Newer Studies

New Jersey Abbott Districts

MI, OK, NJ, SC, & WV State Preschool

TN State Preschool

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Achievement Gap4

Hart and Risley: words per year heard by children by 3

professional families – 11M

working class families – 6M

welfare families – 3M

By age 3, significant disparities in language development are apparent between children from low- and high-income families.

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What’s at Stake

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School failure

Additional costs: special education, remedial services, mental health care, and juvenile justice programs

Diminished potential to form strong social and family relationships

Long-term costs in social dependency; increased disparities’ sub-optimal productivity; and sub-optimal health

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A Cradle-to-Career Continuum

All graduates have opportunities for success in the 21st century economy

All students graduate high school on time prepared for at least one year of post-secondary

All students enter middle school with foundational skills to tackle advanced subjects

All kindergarten students arrive ready to succeed and remain on track to 4th grade

Elementary(Grades K-5)

Secondary (Grades 6-

12)

Post-Secondary

Early Learning(Birth-grade 3)

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ED Strategic Plan

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Early Learning

Improve the health, social-emotional, and cognitive

outcomes for all children from birth through 3rd grade, so

that all children, particularly those with high needs, are

on track for graduating from high school college- and

career-ready.

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Three Subgoals

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Workforce

Assessment and

Accountability

Access

High-Quality Early Learning Systems

High-Quality

Coordinated

Early Learning System

Program Standards/

QRIS

Early Learning Standards

Data Systems

Health Promotion

Family and Community

Engagement

Workforce/ Professional Development

Comprehensive Assessment System

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Early Learning in ED Programs

Race to the Top (RTT)

I3 – investing in Innovation

Promise Neighborhoods

SIG

Title I

RTT – Early Learning Challenge

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Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge

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Increasing the number of children entering kindergarten ready to succeed

Improving the quality of early learning programs

by

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Goal

37 ApplicantsArizona

Arkansas

California (FY11)

Colorado (FY12 eligible)

Connecticut

Delaware (FY11)

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Illinois (FY12 eligible)

Iowa

Kansas

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Kentucky

Maine

Maryland (FY11)

Massachusetts (FY11)

Michigan

Minnesota (FY11)

Mississippi

Missouri

Nebraska

Nevada

New Jersey

New Mexico (FY12 eligible)

New York

North Carolina (FY11)

Ohio (FY11)

Oklahoma

Oregon (FY12 eligible)

Pennsylvania

Puerto Rico

Rhode Island (FY11)

Vermont

Washington (FY11)

West Virginia

Wisconsin (FY12 eligible)

Key Reform Areas

Successful State Systems

High-Quality, Accountable

Programs

TQRIS

Promoting Outcomes

Improving the Workforce

Measuring Outcomes

Early Learning Standards

Comp.Assessment

Systems

Health Promotion

Family Engagement

Framework/ Credentials

Supporting Improvement

KEA

Data Systems

Investments

Reform Agenda

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Learning from RTT-ELC

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Validating the effectiveness of the State TQRIS: relationship between the TQRIS ratings and child outcomes

whether the tiers in the State’s TQRIS accurately reflect differential levels of program quality

the extent to which changes in quality ratings are related to progress in children’s learning, development, and school readiness

Story Ideas New Office of Early Learning at ED

RTT-ELC influence on state policy and funding WA: KEA mandatory for publicly-funded full-day kindergarten in

2012-2013 NC: Governor’s budget - $40M increase for preschool

RTT-ELC winners balancing reform efforts with State budgets

Non-winning RTT-ELC States’ reforms CT, MI & HI: New Offices focused on Early Childhood

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Upcoming Public Comment on RESPECT Project

http://www.ed.gov/teaching/national-conversation/vision

RTT-LEA Announcement – May 22nd at 12pm Register by May 21st: http://www.cvent.com/d/9cqqs9/1Q USTREAM: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/education-

department

RTT-ELC Phase 2 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to be posted early Summer for public comment

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THANK YOU!

Please see our website for additional information

and to join our list servehttp://www.ed.gov/early-learning

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