Time: 2:00- 3:30 p.m. CDT

Location: Webinar

Description: The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) gives states the flexibility to invest in early learning to ensure that all children begin school on the path to success. Cohosted by REL Southwest and the Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes (CEELO) this webinar will provide participants with resources, examples, and strategies for including early learning in their ESSA state plans.

CEELO Director Lori Connors-Tadros, Ph.D., will share evidence-based resources to support states in drafting their ESSA plans. Arkansas, Louisiana, Michigan, and Washington state leaders will then describe how they have used research to integrate early learning priorities and provisions into their ESSA state plans.

Research Alliance: Arkansas Prekindergarten Research Alliance and New Mexico Prekindergarten Research Alliance

Audience: This webinar is designed for state- and district-level early childhood program directors and coordinators.

Speakers:

• Lori Connors-Tadros, Ph.D., Director, Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes
• Robert Butts, Senior Advisor, Governmental Relations, Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, (formerly Assistant Superintendent of Early Learning)
• Jenna Conway, Assistant Superintendent, Early Childhood, Louisiana Department of Education
• Richard Lower, Director, Office of Preschool and Out-of-School Time Learning, Office of Great Start, Michigan Department of Education
• Tonya Williams, Director, Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education
• Janice Keizer, Prekindergarten Research Alliance Liaison, REL Southwest