P-3 is a movement that seeks to align traditional early childhood policies,
programs and priorities (0-5 years) with early elementary schools (K-3) creating
comprehensive, aligned and coordinated “pathways” for children and families that
include such elements as access to high-quality early learning programs and full-day
kindergartens (Kauerz, 2007). The goal of the P-3 movement is to build early childhood
systems (Kagan & Kaurez, 2012). A system in this context is a group of services in early
childhood education that work together to best serve children from birth to third grade
(Kagan & Kaurez, 2012). Alignment of early childhood systems includes the vertical
coordination between federal, state and community-level funding and responsibility as
well as horizontal coordination involving department alignment (Kagan & Kaurez, 2012).
The purposes of aligning the early childhood systems include expanding services,
improving their quality and outcomes, and reducing inequities in access to services for
children and families (Kagan & Kaurez, 2012). Another goal in system building is to
help families and children receive services as efficiently and effectively as possible.