Preparation & Continuous Professional Learning

The University of Chicago Urban Education Institute (UEI) and the Ounce of Prevention Fund (the Ounce) embarked on an effort to form a partnership whose vision is to “… build a model of public education for children and their families that begins at birth and creates success in school, college, and life.” The goal is to collaboratively and continuously align and create instructional practices, and academic and social supports, to demonstrate a new model of public education that seamlessly and successfully prepares children for college, beginning at birth.

FirstSchool is committed to working with teacher educators from early childhood, elementary, and special education to help future teachers be responsive to the needs of young children.

Two papers from the Erikson Institute show that state-based teacher preparation standards and teacher education programs do not adequately address the developmental and educational needs of diverse groups of children.