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Building a child’s education is similar to building a house -- you start with a strong foundation. To have a successful academic career, children need an educational foundation that has been laid early and intentionally. This idea is the basis of the AASA Early Learning cohort, one of 35 professional learning networking groups led by AASA, The School Superintendents Association. From this cohort’s point of view, if superintendents want to see successful outcomes for every student, then we must start before a child enters school. Our Early Learning cohort seeks to highlight what superintendents are doing at a systems level that prioritizes educating students aged three to eight years old. 

In my 30 years of school leadership, I have come to understand that there is a real need for collegial support as superintendents work to accelerate early learning in their districts.  It is very rare for superintendents to have a background in early education, so they may not be attuned to the challenges that start even before kids enter our schools. Here’s how the Early Learning cohort is shifting the focus for district leaders.

How the AASA Cohort Works

The Early Learning cohort has members from 25 districts. The cohort meets three times each year—at the AASA national conference on education and onsite at two different school districts. Since its inception, the cohort has met in a number of districts, including Volusia County Schools, Hillsborough County Public Schools, Ann Arbor Public Schools, Shaker Heights Schools, and Dundee Community Schools.

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