Longitudinal research findings on the success of the Montgomery County Public Schools in implementing early elementary school academic reforms and achieving improved student performance, particularly among at-risk students, is the topic of a policy briefing sponsored by the school system and several national policy and research organizations on June 12 at the National Press Club.

Titled “Ensuring a Strong Start for No Child Left Behind, the Impact of Quality Prekindergarten, Mobility & Assessment,” the briefing is co-sponsored by the American Educational Research Association, the Committee for Economic Development, and the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL).

Featured participants include Jerry D. Weast, superintendent of schools, as presenter, with a panel response with Charles E.M. Kolb, president, Committee for Economic Development, as moderator, and panelists including Harold “Bud” Hodgkinson, director, Center for Demographic Study, IEL; Edward Joyner, ex. director, School Development Program, Yale University; Craig Ramey, director, Georgetown Center on Health and Education; and Amy Wilkins, Executive Director, The Trust for Early Education.

Over the past three years, the Montgomery County Public Schools has been studying thousands of students in prekindergarten through Grade 2, with results showing great promise for improving the achievement of low-income children and English language learners. The findings also raise significant policy questions for the No Child Left Behind law regarding standards for quality prekindergarten, mobility and diagnostic assessments. The briefing will look at the latest report from this longitudinal research project on the school system's early childhood education reforms.

The briefing is scheduled on Thursday, June 12, from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the Holeman Lounge of the National Press Club at 529 14th Street, NW - 13th floor, Washington, D.C. Reservations required. Call 301-279-3381.

For more information about the research studies, see the link below.