The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will convene an ad hoc committee to conduct a study on pre-k curriculum quality for children ages three through five, with special attention to the needs of Black and Latinx children, dual language learners, children with special needs, and children experiencing poverty. The study will support equitable curriculum development, state and center-level pre-k curriculum selection, and local curriculum implementation. The committee will review research on early childhood development, including research on access to contemporary early learning opportunities, and consider the lived experience of diverse young children, their families, and early childhood educators.
The committee will make recommendations aimed at creating a new vision for high quality pre-k curriculum, including:
- The fundamental assumptions, principles, and definitions that should guide the content, development and use of high-quality, equitably-driven curriculum for prekindergarten children.
- The components, criteria, and/or features of high-quality pre-k curriculum that support equity and learning and development of all children. Special considerations that may be needed for Black and Latinx children, culturally and linguistically diverse learners, children with special needs, and children experiencing poverty.
- How the components, criteria, and/or features of high-quality, equitable curriculum should be used by state and local preschool program directors to make curricular decisions for diverse learners and guidance needed to facilitate selection of curricula.
- Curricular supports and professional development opportunities needed by diverse early childhood educators in diverse pre-k settings to enable the effective and equitable implementation of high-quality pre-k curriculum.
- Funding mechanisms, state and federal policies, and new innovations that can support the selection and use of effective and equitable pre-k curriculum.
- Research that is needed to address current gaps in understanding of components, criteria, and/or features of high-quality pre-k curricula.
The study will be carried out by a committee of approximately 12 volunteer experts in the fields of: early childhood education; early childhood development; preschool program development; head start; equity; curriculum development; implementation science; special needs; dual language learners; child health; mental health; neuroscience
The National Academies are committed to enhancing diversity and inclusion in order to strengthen the quality of our work. Diverse perspectives contribute to finding innovative approaches and solutions to challenging issues. We encourage the nomination of volunteers who reflect the populations we serve and also welcome in particular nominations of candidates from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, women, and early- and mid-career professionals.We invite you to submit nominations for committee members and/or reviewers for this study by February 4, 2022.
Contact information:
Name: Rebekah Hutton
Email: rhutton@nas.edu
Phone: 202-334-3127Project Website Link