Right from the Start

The preschool and early school years are crucial for children and parents. When children experience success in responsive, high-quality programs, they learn essential skills and knowledge, and their parents learn to be confident partners with teachers and administrators. However, when children lack quality early education, they often fall behind their peers in achievement and suffer low self esteem, and parents may feel they lack the ability to work with professionals in support of their child’s education.

This 1988 report from NASBE’s National Early Childhood Education Task Force provides a policy agenda to promote the development of all young children ages 4-8. Aimed at public school leaders and state policymakers, these recommendations spell out ways for the public schools to teach young children, work with their parents, and collaborate with other programs that serve preschoolers and their families.