Strategies for Children to Participate in National Policy Academy
by Alyssa Haywoode
Here’s a press release announcing our new project.
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Strategies for Children (SFC) has been named to the Massachusetts team for the National Governors Association Early Education Policy Academy.
On June 17, 2013, the National Governors Association (NGA) announced that six states, including Massachusetts, have been selected to participate in an intensive policy academy to improve learning outcomes from early childhood through third grade. The goals of the policy academy are to build commitment among policy makers and thought leaders to prioritize high-quality early education and to align early learning standards with standards for college and career readiness. The academy will also help states implement specific, individualized plans for assessment systems and measurements of educator effectiveness.
Amy O’Leary, the director of Early Education for All, a campaign of Strategies for Children, will represent SFC on the Massachusetts team.
“Strategies for Children is honored to be part of the Massachusetts team that will participate in the highly selective NGA policy academy,” said Carolyn Lyons, President and Chief Executive Officer of Strategies for Children. “While Massachusetts is known for its first class education system, we have an achievement gap which has remained intractable over the last decade. According to the latest MCAS results, nearly 40% of Massachusetts third graders are not proficient in reading, a critical predictor of future academic success. Research indicates that 74% of children who struggle with reading in third grade will continue to struggle in school.
“The single best way to close this achievement gap is high-quality early education. Being part of the NGA’s dynamic, multi-state, intensive academy is an opportunity for Massachusetts to improve our early education system through innovative and results-based best practices. We look forward to being a part of this process.”
Along with Massachusetts, teams from Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada and Pennsylvania will participating in the NGA policy academy. Participating states receive guidance and technical assistance from NGA experts, private sector consultants, research organizations and academia. The academy is funded by the Alliance for Early Success, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, The Heising-Simons Foundation, the Robert R. McCormick Foundation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.
