BPS Superintendent Honored for Ensuring MA PreK/K Programs Among 8% NAEYC Accredited Nationwide

May 6, 2010 - PRLog -- [Cambridge, MA]— On May 1, 2010, over 150 principals and early learning leaders paid tribute to Boston Public Schools’ Superintendent, Dr. Carol R. Johnson, who received the CAYL Catalyst Award for Elevating Excellence in Early Care and Education from the CAYL Institute. Superintendent Johnson has been honored for her pioneering initiative and commitment to ensure that all pre-k through kindergarten programs, within Boston Public Elementary Schools, meet the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation standards.  

The award was presented by NAEYC Executive Director Designate, Dr. Jerlean Daniel, at the CAYL Institute’s Teaching, Testing, Learning & Leading: A Policy Roundtable for Massachusetts Elementary School Principals and Early Learning Leaders. This landmark event convened principals, administrators, and national experts to lead the reform discussion necessary to develop innovative strategies for the effective assessment of young children age three though eight. As a result of the increased emphasis on student outcomes, both nationally and within Massachusetts, effectively addressing the needs of young children has become a greater concern as the number of young children attending early education programs continues to increase. The May 1st forum focused on creating strategies that address accountability in schools serving young children, while also exploring effective ways for measuring child outcomes.

The efforts of early learning leaders such as Boston Public School (BPS) Superintendent, Carol Johnson and the CAYL Institute President, Valora Washington are grounded in decades of research that demonstrate that high quality early education is essential for immediate and long term student achievement. Recognizing that a specialized approach was required to meet the challenge of providing learning opportunities to over 1700 preschool age children, in 2007, Superintendent Johnson partnered with the CAYL Institute to help BPS achieve positive change for its youngest learners and their classrooms. “The role of the principal is one of the most important factors for school reform,” states Dr. Washington. Since that time, through the Boston Public School Principals’ Fellowship, CAYL has been working with elementary school principals to strengthen their individual and collective capacity to design, implement, supervise, and assess effective early learning.

As a result of Superintendent Johnson’s enterprising efforts, the dedication of many BPS principals, and with the support of the district’s BPS Department of Early Childhood, Boston will be the first large urban school district in the nation to make a commitment to ensure that the National Association of Young Children (NAEYC) will accredit all programs serving three, four and five year olds within BPS elementary schools.  During her presentation remarks, Dr. Daniel indicated, “Only 8% of all early childhood programs nationwide have yet to accomplish this.” With seven schools already accredited and fifteen in process, BPS anticipates adding at least six to ten schools each year until they are all accredited. Achieving NAEYC accreditation for pre-k and kindergarten programs within a public school setting sets a precedent that will go a long way to ensuring high quality education for all of Massachusetts. Washington states, “Carol Johnson’s innovative actions epitomize those of a true pioneer. She has taken the initiative to lay the foundation to meet the needs of young learners not just for today but also for future learning success.”

Dr. Johnson received the award at the CAYL Institute’s forum where BPS Principal Fellows lead the dialog on a range of topics affecting young learners with the emphasis on assessment practices and the ability to become effective leaders who take action to provide a high quality, developmentally appropriate education for young children within their schools. Dr. Johnson, her principal and early learning program director colleagues from across the state were treated with a keynote address by Dr. Jacqueline Jones, US Department of Education Early Learning Advisor  who provided a federal perspective on the topics raised and insight on the future vision for the U.S. Department of Education.  

In addition to the federal perspective,  Dr. Jerlean Daniel and state level panelists–Massachusetts Secretary of Education, Paul Reville;  Early Education and Care Commissioner Sherri Killins;  Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester– joined Dr. Washington in an early learning dialog which presented a framework from which attendees could emulate leadership models such as Carol Johnson’s  show of initiative.   Overall the discussion provided participants with a robust early learning agenda from which they could leave the forum and transform their own leadership into actionable objectives that would transition their schools into Ready School environments while enhancing their ability to teach and assess the young learners they serve.

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Community Advocates for Young Learners, or the CAYL Institute, is the umbrella organization housing several well-known Fellowships including the CAYL Schott Fellowship in Early Care and Education and the CAYL Principals Fellowship.