College and Career Readiness: The Importance of Early Learning
This policy report by ACT discusses the importance of early learning, the components of a strong preschool and elementary school education, and barriers to strengthening early learning. Additionally, the report draws from the ACT Core Practice Framework to describe how school and district leaders can provide support for improving classroom practices. The report concludes with recommendations for school leaders and policymakers to promote public awareness of the advantages of early learning.
This policy report clearly describes the importance of early education. Based on research, it defines the components of early education that need to be in place for it to positively affect students’ academic learning throughout their K-12 experiences. It provides practical suggestions for incorporating these components at the school and district levels. Readers may or may not agree with the implementation advice, but the suggestions can serve as a starting point for important discussions to review and/or develop early learning programs.