Pre-K Meet Post-K; Post-K Meet Pre-K
The cute pictures of proud 5-year-olds in their miniature caps and gowns “graduating” this year from preschool are probably still being exchanged by family members via the Internet. Such ceremonies are a great excuse to feed kids cake and, for teachers especially, celebrate the end of the year.
Photo by Paul Schultz
But therein is an opportunity to address a major weaknesses of our education system: we don’t pay enough substantive attention to the transition of students from one level of schooling to the next.
One of the biggest gaps occurs between preschool and kindergarten. Sam Meisels, president of the Erikson Institute
Quick Hits 7.11.11
Law prohibiting teacher layoffs draws criticism. The law, which passed as part of the state budget, requires districts to maintain the 2010-2011 level of teachers in the coming year, even if funding drops. “Education officials have denounced the law as a stunning blow to local budget control and said it could drive more districts into financial insolvency. […]But Dean Vogel, president of the California Teachers Assn., said the law would give a well-deserved respite to teachers, who have suffered 30,000 layoffs in the last few years. The union backed the bill but did not initiate it, he said.” (The