Five overarching state strategies for building quality early education systems¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 1 study (1 qualitative), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description¶

The report distills the shared approach of Michigan, West Virginia, Washington, and North Carolina into five overarching strategies: "establishing standards for quality and systems that incentivize improvement; investing in knowledgeable and skilled educators; coordinating and aligning early education programs; seeking sufficient funding sources and mechanisms; and building broad-based support." Each state case study shows how these strategies were adapted to state context, and the report's cross-state lessons section elaborates each into specific policy recommendations for policymakers elsewhere.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• State policymakers willing to invest in quality standards, educator development, program coordination, sufficient funding, and coalition-building over multiple years

Constraints¶

• The report states none of the four states is finished: "none of these states is ready to declare, 'Mission accomplished!'" and delivering quality early education "will take time and effort—as well as public investment"

Target Learners¶

• 3- and 4-year-old children in state-funded preschool programs

Target Learning Goals¶

• School readiness, social-emotional and academic development, and long-term school success

Claims¶

• A year of West Virginia Pre-K produced substantial gains in print awareness at kindergarten entry, and the program meets all 10 NIEER quality standards [+W]

Related Strategies¶

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Wechsler, M., Kirp, D., Tinubu Ali, T., Gardner, M., Maier, A., Melnick, H., & Shields, P. (2016). The road to high-quality early learning: Lessons from the states. Palo Alto: Learning Policy Institute. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/