K-12 Leaders 

• Serve as a visible leader and sustained supporter of early learning.  

  • Dedicate financial resources to early learning programming and/or quality improvements. For example, Atlanta Public Schools’ 2018 resolution publicly expressed support for PAACT's commitments. Read more here. 

  • Sustain the commitment to pay parity for Pre – K teacher and paraprofessionals in Atlanta Public Schools.  

 

• Promote alignment and collaboration between and within early childhood and K-12 systems. 

  • Partner with neighboring early childhood education providers to engage in high-quality, joint professional development for preschool to 3rd-grade teachers. For example, APS has supported over 10 elementary principals and leaders in attending the GEEARS Preschool to 3rd Grade Leaders Fellowship. 

  • Understand and implement developmentally appropriate practices that are research-based and data-informed.

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• Provide transition programs to support young learners, including the critical transition to kindergarten, by working collaboratively with other teaching staff, families, and community members. 

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• Foster a family-friendly atmosphere and serve families with diverse cultural, linguistic, and developmental needs. 

  • Collaborate with families, acknowledging and respecting their strengths, values, cultural practices, and languages. 

  • Partner with local municipalities and entities to provide child care supports to school employees or student parents.

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Higher Education Leaders 

• Communicate and disseminate relevant research findings and translate for policy and practice. 

• Incorporate into coursework resources and tools that promote child- and family-centered practices and adopt a pedagogical approach that promotes P-3 alignment.  

• Partner with communities and practitioners to support collaboration across child- and family-serving systems and build research-practice partnerships. 

• Adopt a two-generation approach to support student parents and other caregivers enrolled in postsecondary and work training programs. 

• Communicate and disseminate relevant research findings and translate for policy and practice, such as A323 The Partnership for School Readiness and Achievement from Age 3 to Grade 3 (Atlanta 323)