This document summarizes presentations made at a national policy forum concerning children's transition from home and preschool to the first years of elementary school. Three presentations by individual speakers examined: (1) the strategic importance of linkages and the transition between early childhood programs and early elementary school; (2)…

Issue papers that focus on improving and expanding quality early childhood services in Louisiana are presented in this report. Each paper includes a description of current practice, several questions and answers concerning the issue, and a list of recommendations and strategies. Following an executive summary and introduction (which includes a…

This program advisory provides direction to school districts and providers of preschool and early primary programs in California who are implementing the recommendations of the School Readiness Task Force Report, "Here They Come: Ready or Not!" The Task Force Report addressed the issue of what kind of education would be necessary during…

This guide provides information and strategies for Kentucky parents to become better partners in the education of their primary school children. Chapter 1 of the guide outlines a typical school day for a primary school student in Kentucky. Chapter 2 explains how children learn and how instruction will change as Kentucky schools move toward greater…

Describes the experience of a conservative, suburban school system making the change from traditional classroom instruction to more developmentally appropriate practices. Discusses the planning and implementation process, focusing particularly on the issues of skills acquisition, assessment, staff development, and parent involvement. (TJQ)

This packet contains four separate documents designed to help elementary schools develop their own action plans for implementing the KERA (Kentucky Education Reform Act) Primary Program, a developmentally appropriate program for young children supported by the Kentucky Department of Education. Fully implemented primary programs are to include the…

This handbook is intended to help Chapter 1 project staff create a developmentally appropriate early childhood program for preschool and kindergarten through second grade. It is a companion piece to two workshops developed to acquaint early childhood staff with developmentally appropriate practices. An introduction describes the philosophy and…

This guide provides early childhood educators with information that will facilitate the construction of a developmentally appropriate curriculum for children from birth through kindergarten age. Such a curriculum: views cognitive, language, affective, and physical development as interrelated and interdependent; is appropriate for the child's age…

The attributes of Kentucky's Primary Program are developmentally appropriate practices; multi-age classrooms; continuous progress; authentic assessment; qualitative reporting; professional teamwork; and parent involvement. This document serves as a guide for teachers who wish to make changes concerning these attributes as they relate to four…

The High/Scope Curriculum is a developmentally based approach to early childhood education. The curriculum's "Extensions" newsletter, in which the articles in this collection first appeared, informs curriculum users about new developments relating to the High/Scope "open framework" curriculum. The articles are presented in…

This paper sets forth a definition and operational description of a developmental program that should be of use as a guide, especially to Virginia's teachers and administrators. Also included in the paper are kindergarten curriculum objectives in the areas of language arts, mathematics, science, art, social studies, family life, health, mental…

This report identifies changes that schools must make in their kindergarten and primary programs if they are to contribute to rather than hinder progress toward the achievement of school readiness for all children, as expressed in goal one of the America 2000 initiative. Schools need to: (1) implement developmentally appropriate curriculum,…

Based on the view that curricula for young children should involve thinking and planning for everything that can contribute to child development and the teacher's relationship with the child and the family, this book details a comprehensive, interactive curriculum for infants from birth to 18 months. Following an introductory chapter presenting…

Based on the view that curricula for young children should involve thinking and planning for everything that can contribute to child development and the teacher's relationship with the child and the family, this book details a comprehensive, interactive curriculum for toddlers 18 to 36 months. Following an introductory chapter presenting the…

A study was conducted of the early childhood programs in the McAllen (Texas) Independent School District. This qualitative study used data collected through observations, interviews, document analysis, questionnaires, and site visits. Current practices were described and compared to developmentally appropriate practices as defined by the National…