Building an Effective, Accountable System in Programs for Children Birth through Age 8

High-quality early education produces long-lasting benefits (Schweinhart & Weikart 1997; National Research Council & Institute of Medicine 2000; PeisnerFeinberg et al. 2000; National Research Council 2001; Reynolds et al. 2001; Campbell et al. 2002). With this evidence, federal, state, and local decision makers are asking critical questions about young children’s education. What should children be taught in the years from birth through age eight? How would we know if they are developing well and learning what we want them to learn? And how could we decide whether programs for children from infancy through the primary grades are doing a good job? Answers to these questions—questions about early childhood curriculum, child assessment, and program evaluation—are the foundation of the joint position statement from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education (NAECS/SDE).