also something that was discussed in the interviews and document review that I conducted.
Strategies for how to create alignment between early learning and elementary school
were not always discussed in my data. This challenge about ways to best bring these two
settings together is something that is dependent on the distinct contexts, but still appears
to be a challenge faced in many districts based on the feedback I heard in the interviews I
conducted. Rhonda explained that although this alignment does exist in some schools,
there is still a disconnection in many other schools between early learning and elementary
education settings.
In some literature on alignment, it has also been referred to as a “systems change
effort” (Coffman &Parker, 2010, p. 1). This effort is defined as, “early childhood stakeholders
working to increase the coordination and integration of these services in order to
build a system that helps to keep kids healthy and ready to learn, and is easier for parents
to understand and navigate” (Coffman & Parker, 2010, p. 1). The goal of systems change
is explained in the following way, “[to]share a common goal to better align early learning
experiences for children and families which is believed to be the key to improving children’s
learning and achievement outcomes later in life” (NAESP Foundation Task Force
On Early Learning, 2011). If alignment has been found to support transitions for children
and teachers especially, then I am curious about ways to support and implement this in
more settings. When thinking about strategies, the literature describes the importance of
alignment across grades, “Part of this consistency includes continuity across grade levels.
This includes collaboration among teachers, alignment of standards and assessments,
families partnering with schools, and early learning programs communicating and coor