Learning the ABCs of Pre-K Education

On Wednesday, April 11, Saint Joseph’s University will host a panel on the state of pre-K education in Philadelphia. Presented by the Department of Teacher Education, the event is open to the public and will be held in the Wolfington Teletorium of Mandeville Hall from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

The panel will feature a variety of local stakeholders and experts working in the School District of Philadelphia, including Deputy Director of Philadelphia Pre-K Shanté Brown, Special Needs Coordinator Klarissa Spencer and Assistant Director of Bright Futures and Partnership Development Leonard Rossio.

“Research has long supported the longitudinal benefits of high-quality pre-K education, particularly for at-risk children,” says Kaitlin Moran, Ph.D., assistant professor of teacher education at Saint Joseph’s University. “The City of Philadelphia has recently taken steps to expand the availability of pre-K and has faced both success and significant challenges. This panel is an interactive way to get involved in the betterment of our city’s primary education systems.”

Panelists will discuss access and equity in early childhood education, the expansion of pre-K and the future of universal pre-K, cultural competency and parental involvement across childcare settings, special education and intervention for young children, and the professionalization of the early childhood workforce.