ACHIEVING QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION: ACTING ON WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED FROM QUALITY 2000

The goal of this follow-up project was to popularize and support the implementation of the recommendations generated from Not By Chance, the final and widely read report of Quality 2000, an initiative designed to create a long-range, integrated vision for early care and education. The eight major recommendations called for improvement of program quality, development of a child-based, results-driven system, engagement of parents and families as partners in children’s programs, development of licenses for early childhood staff, expansion of the content of education and training for early childhood staff, licensing of all early childhood programs, direct investment in the infrastructure of early care and education, and the creation of local and state boards responsible for the infrastructure and governance of early care and education. The project was focused on communication and outreach to the public, policy makers and the early care and education field. Additional work included a toolkit for engaging states and communities in the work of creating comprehensive visions for early care and education. This project advanced new ideas about reforming America’s early childhood education
system.

Funding Source: Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Contact: Sharon Lynn Kagan, Ed.D.