The Critical Role of Professional Development in Creating High-Quality Early Learning Environments

The evidence is clear; the early years of a child’s life are a critical time for learning. But, with fewer than half of all kindergartners coming to school kindergarten-ready, we know we must do more to support children’s early learning and development. Even before the pandemic fueled a nationwide child care crisis, too few young children had access to early care and learning rooted in the science of early brain development. As we work to recruit and retain early learning educators to meet demand, we must equip them with knowledge about the evidence-based practices that can foster high-quality early learning environments to prepare children for success. Please join us on November 15, from 12:30–2 p.m. ET, for a Funder-to-Funder Conversation engaging funders and early learning innovators in an exploration of the role that research-based professional development plays in promoting positive learning environments to support children’s social, emotional, physical and cognitive development. I will be joined by two of my philanthropic colleagues in a discussion of our priorities and investments in early care and learning. Then we will hear from education leaders as they share how their innovative models can engage and empower early childhood educators in ways that help increase retention and set our youngest learners on the path toward early and later school success.