Photo: Alyssa Haywoode for Strategies for Children

Massachusetts’ education agencies have collaborated on a new website – “Building the Foundation for College and Career Success for Children from Birth through Grade 3.” It’s a public resource that will share information on the state’s promising efforts to build a birth-through-grade-three policy agenda that will help children achieve success in school and later in life.

“By creating this agenda,” the website explains, “we will enhance the quality of educational and other services provided to children and families and also increase policy alignment and collaboration among our state education agencies – the Department of Early Education and Care, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Department of Higher Education.”

The birth-through-grade-three agenda will also “strengthen essential partnerships with educators, parents and families, local and state officials, legislators, community and business partners, and other members of the commonwealth,” enabling the state to make an even stronger commitment to its children.

The Website’s Content

Supported by the Executive Office of Education, the website will highlight the work being done to develop the policy and share news about related upcoming events.

Currently the website includes three areas of information:

– The National Governors Association’s Early Learning Policy Academy

Last year, Massachusetts and five other states were chosen to participate in this academy “to build awareness and commitment… [among] key stakeholders to support high-quality early learning opportunities for children, enhance standards and assessments, and strengthen the effectiveness of early childhood and early elementary educators.”

– The Essential Competencies and Experiences for Children from Birth through Grade 3

As this draft document explains, “The commonwealth has identified essential competencies across the cognitive, social and emotional, linguistic, and physical domains that should be demonstrated by our youngest citizens from birth through grade three in order to ensure that they are on the pathway to future success.” The document will help guide the state’s ongoing efforts to “enhance early learning standards, develop new assessment strategies, enhance the effectiveness of our educator workforce, and provide comprehensive support to children and families.”

– Information about the Birth through Grade 3 Policy Forum that was held in May.

Included on the website are the program for the event, a list of speakers, and materials from the small group discussion sessions. The forum was supported by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices.

Check back often: The website will be continuously updated with more information.

Ensuring Future Prosperity

To ensure the commonwealth’s future prosperity, the website says, “we must ensure that all of our youngest citizens, regardless of zip code, have access to enriching learning opportunities and experiences in their homes, communities, and educational environments.”

“This is an exciting time for the commonwealth, and we are excited about building an agenda that will expand on our efforts to provide high-quality services to our children and families. In Massachusetts, increasing college and career readiness starts at birth, and creating healthy, happy, and inclusive environments in which all of our children can thrive.”

If you have questions or need additional information about the birth-through-grade-three policy agenda or about the website, please contact Saeyun Lee (saeyun.lee@bhe.mass.edu) at the Department of Higher Education.