About NASBE's Work in Early Childhood Education

The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) first created the Early Childhood Education Network in 2001. Most recently, with support from he W.K. Kellogg Foundation, NASBE worked with six states--Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon, and Virginia--to design cohesive, high-quality early learning systems. 

State boards have become increasingly interested in early childhood education as heightened accountability for K-12 student achievement has cast new light on issues of early learning and school readiness. Indeed, state boards are uniquely positioned to address issues around quality in early childhood services and the potential of early education to impact achievement gaps because they have broad oversight of education standards, licensure, and certification. Yet states face enormous challenges in establishing a coordinated, coherent preschool system that provides children with strong programs and well-trained teachers. State, federal, and local early childhood education policies vary widely on almost every count including goals, administrative structures, teacher preparation and professional development, early learning standards, and types of agencies operating programs.

Guided by the successes of the first participating states (Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Wyoming), NASBE's latest three-year project focused on collaborative efforts to:

• Establish research-based learning standards for pre-kindergarten through grade 3;
• Design certification and licensure requirements to ensure that practitioners have the knowledge and skills they need to teach children effectively;
• Institute program quality assurances to ensure children have access to quality learning environments;
• Align early childhood standards with certification and preparation program approval for providers;
• Integrate early childhood services for children with and without disabilities; and
• Assess the impact of professional development on teacher performance, program quality, and child outcomes.

For further information or assistance regarding NASBE's work in Early Childhood Education please contact:
Dr. Mariana Haynes, Director of Research,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Jessie Levin, Project Associate,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it