The Foundations of Primary School Improvement

The mission of the Iowa DE/ AEA Early Childhood Network is: to promote the optimal development and education of all young children by providing leadership and support to the collaborative efforts of families, schools, and communities. Early childhood professionals significantly assist in developing and preparing students for success which is the goal of school improvement efforts.

Planting Seeds:

Our beliefs are framed around the concept of life-long learners. Our initial focus across the state was to provide leadership through the publication of The Primary Program: Growing and Learning in the Heartland. This began our focus on the development of the young child and the environments that support optimal learning. This document is currently in its fourth printing with over 8,000 copies in use across the United States and several foreign countries. Through awareness sessions, study teams, primary program resource sites and publications related to the teaching, learning and observation of young children, many initiatives have grown across the state.

Cultivating Roots:

The next stage of development will continue to support the learning of both adults and young children. Because school improvement is a continuous process it must begin with the learning of young children and the acquisition of appropriate skills by the adults who provide the learning environments. The development of young children is enhanced through social interactions and with support from adults who are significant to the child. As adults, our professional lives are impacted through the interaction and support that is available to early childhood educators. As adult learners, we know that people are empowered through collaborative efforts. Our work with young children is extremely relevant as a part of primary school improvement. Consequently, the philosophy of continuous school improvement and support for the learner cannot be separated from the philosophy of early childhood education. Every school in Iowa is included in this initiative: to build environments that support optimal learning for young children.

Supporting Growth and Learning:

Adults learn best in a supportive environment that includes meaningful work, active engagement, personal commitment and time for reflection. Our goal is to find a growing evidence of a clear understanding of the characteristics and needs of young children in all early childhood learning environments. To assure the interests of early childhood are represented in planning for school improvement it is necessary to:

• Build on all the exemplary practice from the study team practices, primary resource sites and innovative early elementary practices, community building, action planning, program evaluation, family literacy and parent support;
• Link with other projects and initiatives as all focus on improving schools and supporting optimal development and achievement for primary students.
• Focus on the optimal development of the whole child through integrated curriculum development and building on the five goal areas of The Primary Program;
• Support the development of the learning community by providing experiences that acknowledge the capacity and enthusiasm that young children bring to the learning environment. The learning community should constantly nurture children's pursuit of knowledge in creative ways, confirm their abilities and make connections to the skills and dispositions essential to life-long learners.

Places to Grow !
New Developments of The Early Childhood Network

For more information, contact:
Susan Andersen
Iowa Department of Education
515-281-4747
Internet: susan.andersen@ed.state.ia.us