U.S. Representative Hirono Joined by Representatives Jones, Young and Polis Introduce NAEYC’s Recommendations to Strengthen the Birth to Third Grade Continuum of Learning in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act

WASHINGTON – The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the nation’s leading voice for high-quality early childhood education for children from birth through age 8, is delighted that the Continuum of Learning Act, led by Representative Mazie Hirono and joined by Representatives Walter Jones, Don Young and Jared Polis, follows NAEYC’s Call to Action recommendations for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

“The importance of high-quality developmental support and learning experiences for all young children, beginning at birth and continuing through the early grades, is better known and appreciated than ever before,” said Dr. Jerlean Daniel, Executive Director of NAEYC. “Even with the longstanding ability to use Title I for very young children, this reauthorization provides an opportunity to encourage further state, community and school-level policy changes that reflect what we know is needed to create an effective continuum of development and learning from birth through age 8 that sets the course for every child’s success in school and in life.”  

The Hirono/Jones/Polis/Young bill would: 

• Have states review and revise their K–3 standards as needed to ensure they cover all the areas of development and learning, including social and emotional development, and approaches to learning as recommended by the National Research Council;
• Promote joint professional development between schools and community-based early childhood education programs for a shared understanding of standards, curricula and teaching practices;
• Provide professional development for elementary school principals in child development and learning, developmentally appropriate teaching practices and collaborations with community early childhood settings;
• Require states to create teaching certificates that reflect the specialized knowledge and skills of teaching young children for those teaching in the early grades and younger, and that address all domains of young children’s development and learning; 
• Help schools evaluate their readiness to support all children’s learning success in the early grades; and 
• Strengthen collaborations between community-based early childhood programs and schools for more effective and supportive transitions for young children.  

NAEYC looks forward to working with members of Congress as the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act moves through the legislative process.

For more information, see NAEYC’s Call to Action. 

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