On Wednesday, September 15, a national conference call co-sponsored by the Center for Law and Social Policy, The Smart Start National Technical Assistance Center, The Build Initiative and the Trust for Early Education featured West Virginia and Oklahoma sharing details about their respective pre-kindergarten systems.
The Pew Charitable Trusts funded this opportunity for people from all over the United States to learn more about West Virginia and Oklahoma as they move toward universal pre-kindergarten systems. Dr. Cathy R. Jones, West Virginia Department of Education Early Childhood Coordinator, and Dr. Ramona Paul, Oklahoma’s Assistant Superintendent of Schools, each spoke about how their pre-k systems funding, inclusive of community programs, legislation and policy are related. Discussion also included universal pre-k and its impact on sustained school improvement.
Stephanie Fanjul from the National Education Association spoke about the teachers’ perspectives and key issues related to providing universal pre-kindergarten systems. Participants then had the opportunity to ask questions of the presenters.