Opinion: This Playful Pre-K is No Longer Sole Purview of the Elite

Aaron Loewenberg, wrote an op-ed for the Hechinger Report on Reggio Emilia and innovations in pre-k in Boston. Boston has been working to bring Reggio Emilia to its large, urban school system where over two-thirds of students are economically disadvantaged.

Implementing a Reggio-inspired approach requires not only ongoing professional development for teachers, but also training for principals so they’re able to walk into a classroom and distinguish intentionally planned play-based learning from open-ended play unconnected to a larger purpose.

Despite these obstacles, the work happening in Boston is challenging the notion that engaging, play-based early learning is only truly available to children whose parents can afford private school tuition or a home in an exclusive neighborhood.

Through its work to pursue a Reggio-inspired approach for young children, the BPS Department of Early Childhood can serve as a model for other urban school districts to think differently about their youngest students.