Expert Committee on Pre-K Curriculum is Officially Named

In April, we interviewed Dr. Jeanne Reid of Teachers College to learn more about pre-K curriculum quality and the forthcoming study from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine that will include recommendations for creating “A New Vision for High Quality Pre-K Curriculum” for children ages three through five. The committee that will ultimately issue a final report has now been formed and held their first formal meeting on May 26-27. The committee is co-chaired by Dr. Sue Bredekamp and Dr. Linda M. Espinosa and includes several other experts with decades of experience in the early education field. The expert committee will research pre-K curriculum quality, paying extra attention “to the needs of Black and Latinx children, dual language learners, children with special needs, and children experiencing poverty.”

As Dr. Reid pointed out in her interview, the use of a high-quality curriculum in pre-K is essential for helping to promote young children’s learning. Despite this fact, there is currently wide variability among pre-K programs and classrooms when it comes to using a curriculum with fidelity. The committee is ultimately tasked with issuing recommendations around a variety of topics related to pre-K curriculum quality, including: the fundamental principles that should guide the development and use of pre-K curriculum; the features of pre-K curriculum that support equity and learning for all children; professional development opportunities needed by early educators to enable effective curriculum implementation; and funding mechanisms that can support the selection and use of effective pre-K curriculum.

The committee is expected to issue their final report sometime in 2023. We’ll keep you updated as the committee continues its work throughout the year.

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