LEO Team “It’s become really clear how important it is in this moment, where so much is happening in education, to leverage kindergarten as that sturdy bridge between early learning — where developmental, culturally responsible practices and family engagement are...
“This simple but profound shift changed our thinking from asking ‘Is this child ready for kindergarten?’ to ‘Is our system ready for the child?’” - Nadira Rizkallah, Eugene School District 4J The June 3, 2025 Kindergarten Matters session focused on the vital role...
Our vision is to ensure that all of the nation’s elementary schools are led by principals who not only understand the science of young children’s learning and development but also are skilled in creating the school climates that nurture the unique aspects of...
The July 9, 2024 GLR Learning Tuesdays webinar, part of our Kindergarten Matters webinar series, highlighted the importance of the kindergarten to first grade transition. In a conversation moderated by Christina Lopez from the Maryland Early Childhood Leadership...
CGLR has long advocated for playful learning in community spaces such as playgrounds and parks, believing that learning happens everywhere. This week’s session gave us the chance to explore play as a teaching and learning strategy in the classroom, especially during...
In this Kindergarten Matters session, Paula Grubbs, Ph.D., from the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, UNC Chapel Hill served as moderator, leading panelists through the conversation while sharing insights from her work as lead of the Kindergarten Sturdy...
This conversation, part of CGLR’s Kindergarten Matters webinar series, focused on actionable supports that could be provided to families as they prepare for their children to begin the kindergarten year. Chrisanne Gayl of Trust for Learning moderated the conversation...
Moderated by Carly Roberts with Overdeck Family Foundation, this session explored the importance of social emotional learning (SEL) and executive function skills for kindergartners, as well as the long-term impact of implementing these programs. The conversation began...
This GLR Learning Tuesdays discussion, titled The Kindergarten Exodus: Why, Where and What We Can Do Now, featured the voices of committed district superintendents from across the country sharing their insights about what it takes to reengage families and reenroll...
Michelle Knapik with the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation moderated an insightful conversation that emphasized the personal and professional commitment to supporting children with learning differences. Before launching the discussion, Knapik reminded attendees of the...
“We do this work because we believe in the cultural, linguistic, intellectual brilliance of our country’s diverse children, and we deeply understand that our schools were not adequately designed to serve these children. Yet, we know that when schooling builds upon the...
“The secret sauce is the coaches. They’re amazing in working with these families and helping them understand the value of a good education.” Jim Lund of Waterford Upstart offered this reflection in this week’s GLR Learning Tuesdays session as he and other panelists...
Last week’s GLR Learning Tuesdays webinar, “A Pivotal Year: Kindergarten’s Important Role in Education,” featured Swati Adarkar, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Early Learning at the U.S. Department of Education, Ellen Galinsky, author of Mind in the Making,...