Dr. Mary Kay Murphy Board Member District III | Gwinnett County Public Schools
Dr. Mary Kay Murphy Board Member District III | Gwinnett County Public Schools
Superintendents and school system leaders from across the nation are gathering in Georgia from March 20-22, 2024, for the Spring Early Learning Cohort meeting. The event is hosted by AASA, The School Superintendents Association, in collaboration with Gwinnett County Public Schools.
The cohort meeting will bring together superintendents to engage in discussions about innovative solutions and emerging research aimed at facilitating positive changes in early childhood education. The event is organized in partnership with Waterford.org, the National Head Start Association, and Age of Learning.
David R. Schuler, executive director of AASA, emphasized the importance of creating a strong foundation for every student. He stated that school systems must adopt "future-driven and forward-leaning approaches" to address the needs of children during their formative years. He highlighted the significance of mental, social, and emotional development for these students and expressed gratitude to Superintendent Watts and his team for hosting the meeting.
Dr. Calvin J. Watts, superintendent of Gwinnett County Public Schools, pointed out that early learning research shows that the human brain is most receptive to knowledge acquisition between birth and three years of age. He explained that their goal is to support young children's education while partnering with families to provide enriching educational experiences for children with special needs.
Peter Finch, superintendent of West Valley (Wash.) School District and co-chair of the AASA Early Learning Cohort, noted that early learning builds a foundation for future success. He stressed that it involves using developmentally appropriate practices throughout a child's early learning years from preschool through primary school grades.
Key topics at the meeting include ensuring engaging learning environments in preK-3 classrooms, increasing family capacity to support early learners, and involving communities in early learning efforts.
In 2022, the AASA Early Learning Cohort released a toolkit designed to assist providers of early learning by offering actionable practices to make a positive impact on public school children and their families nationwide.
For more information about the AASA Early Learning Cohort or to get involved, interested parties can visit their webpage or contact Mort Sherman or Debbie Magee at AASA.
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