"Surprise! Here come the preschoolers." Thousands of elementary principals are receiving a similar message from their supervisors as the concept of universal preschool is propelled to the forefront of the national education agenda. School districts across the country are being infused with wide varieties of federal- and state-funded…

One of the most important roles of a principal is that of early childhood advocate. It is a role supported by an abundance of research showing that students who enter school having experienced high-quality preschool are better equipped and adjusted to meet today's kindergarten programs. But where does a busy principal--pushed to the maximum with…

The recently released results of the 2009 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) comparison of educational achievement across 65 countries has brought renewed attention to the achievement gap and recommended changes to improve U.S. performance. The U.S. was well down in the middle of the pack for reading, math, and science while…

Early childhood and elementary-level educators are engaging in conversations about how to coordinate their efforts to develop fluent readers. There is evidence that key early literacy skills that are predictive of subsequent literacy achievement in kindergarten and first grade can be taught to preschool-age children. Moreover, early childhood…

Summarizes a recent Center for Research on Elementary and Middle Schools (CREMS) literature review on effective kindergarten and preschool programs. Over the past 20 years, kindergarten enrollment has expanded, the students are older, and the days are getting longer. Preschool enrollment has also grown tremendously. Effective programs are briefly…

Educators at both preschool and kindergarten levels must work together to create developmental continuity and improve the chances of school success for all children. Four strategies of preparation and transition are discussed. (12 references) (SI)

Presents the findings from a nationwide survey by the Educational Research Service, Inc. of principals on early childhood education. (MD)

Provides principals with information about the various types of preschool programs and the needs they serve. Answers questions about preschool demographics, enrollment trends, private and public options, characteristics of good programs, the need for more preschool education (especially for poor children), and how this $3 billion demand can be…

Many elementary schools are adding a prekindergarten year because of increasing concern for at-risk children lacking adequate supervision. Meeting a child's needs early is much more effective than later remediation. This article discusses three major considerations in designing such programs: teacher selection, space requirements, and…

The author presents a number of factors that underscore the educational advantages of focusing on a Pre-K-3 school configuration, including the need for less remediation and more productive learning in the upper elementary and secondary grades. He describes a self-contained Pre-K-3 continuum, including universal pre-kindergarten and full-day…

Even Start Family Literacy Program is a three-part program serving thousands of children from birth to age seven. The federal program supplies parents with the training to be their child's first teacher; allows them to gain needed literacy skills and complete their own formal education; and provides a preschool for young children. Children gain at…

Few public education systems provide schooling for four-year-olds, yet studies show that children who attend preschool programs do better and are more likely to graduate from high school. Includes a national survey of public programs for four-year-olds. (MD)

In "Ready to Learn: A Mandate for the Nation," Ernest L. Boyer examines the challenges posed by the school readiness national goal. The seven-step strategy for achieving this goal includes a healthy start, empowered parents, quality preschool experience, a responsive workplace, television as teacher, neighborhoods for learning, and…

The center, a once abandoned elementary school building in Leadville, Colorado, combines year-round preschool, day care, and before- and afterschool programs for 550 children aged 2.5 to 13. The center also helps the local high school's parenting/child development class and offers onsite family counseling by county social workers. (MLH)

Public Law 94-142 requires that school districts provide a free, appropriate, and public education to all handicapped children, aged 3 to 21, in the least restricted environment (LRE). This article explains compliance dilemmas, defines LRE, compares integration with mainstreaming, outlines integrated program characteristics, and discusses…