How Can We Put the Whole Child at the Center of Education Reform Policy? | Policy [M]atters, Episode 3

In this episode, Susan shares heartening insights on New York City’s progress in taking a holistic approach to early care and education. Teri reflects on how the communication strategy urging the use of the term “early education” instead of “early care and education” may have had unintended consequences. Susan urges early childhood professionals to voice their expertise about the social-emotional and cognitive development of young children to policymakers and others outside the early childhood field. She then outlines next steps for broadening the education reform conversation to encompass the whole child.

To expand the conversation beyond the video chat, below are links to more resources authored by Susan. Please note that Susan’s views are not necessarily a reflection of the McCormick Center’s opinions or beliefs.

• Squandering America’s Future (Book)
• The Incredible Ridiculousness of Readiness (Blog post)
• Emily Kaplan’s Musings on the Luxury of Lingering in Childhood (Blog post)

Dr. Teri Talan is Director of Policy Initiatives at the McCormick Center and Professor of Early Childhood Education at National Louis University. She promotes action by state and national policymakers on early childhood workforce and program administration issues.

Susan Ochshorn is the founder ECE PolicyWorks and author of Squandering America’s Future: Why ECE Policy Matters for Equality, Our Economy, and Our Children. She works in a broad range of settings to bridge research, policy, and practice, to integrate ECE into the larger education reform conversation, and to catalyze social change.