State legislators from across the country recently gathered at Stanford University to participate in The Hunt Institute's Early Childhood Policy Academy. The three-day event, co-hosted by the Stanford Center on Early Childhood, aimed to educate policymakers on the importance of investing in early childhood development.
The Academy began with online modules and virtual sessions, allowing participants to build their understanding of the science and policy of early learning. The policymakers then arrived at Stanford ready to hear from national resource experts on policy solutions to support families with young children and the early childhood workforce in their regions.
Philip Fisher, director of the Stanford Center on Early Childhood, emphasized the importance of research and policy working hand in hand. He expressed gratitude towards the participants, stating, "[It's] really part of the critical work that's necessary in order to have the kind of cross communication and information flow so that we can assist with the work that you're doing."
Javaid Siddiqi, president and CEO of The Hunt Institute, highlighted the need for strong investments in the early years of a child's education. He stated, "There is a need to make strong investments in the early, formative years of a child's education and raise expectations of early education programs."
During the Academy, policymakers had the opportunity to learn about solutions to the challenges they face when working with early childhood policy. Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke of Hawaii spoke about her push for universal access to preschool in the state. She emphasized the importance of public preschools in areas where private preschools are not financially viable, stating, "The commitment is to build out public preschools where private preschools [can't go]."
Experts also discussed the challenges faced by the early childhood workforce, including low wages and poor working conditions. Alissa Mwenelupembe, managing director of Early Learning at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), emphasized the importance of retention strategies. She stated, "When I was a [child care program] director, my teachers were paid on par with kindergarten teachers in our community."
The Academy also included a visit to All Five, an early education program in Menlo Park, California. Participants received a guided tour of the center, highlighting the importance of creating a sustainable early childhood workforce and providing all families, regardless of income, with access to high-quality early education. Carol Thomsen, founder and executive director of All Five, emphasized that early childhood education is an investment that will be repaid in later years. She stated, "Early childhood education is the ultimate unworkable equation...we're shaping the future of our world, each and every day in these first five years."
The Early Childhood Policy Academy at Stanford provided state policymakers with valuable insights and solutions to the challenges they face in early childhood policy. By highlighting the importance of investing in early childhood development and supporting the early childhood workforce, policymakers can make informed decisions that will benefit children and families in their regions.
Click this link to access more information: https://earlychildhood.stanford.edu/news/state-policymakers-attend-academy-hosted-stanford-center-early-childhood
