In January 2013, Early Childhood Associates began a partnership with the Lowell Public Schools and the Lowell Early Childhood Advisory Council to coordinate Lowell’s Birth to Third Grade Alignment reform efforts. ECA’s task has been to develop a cross-sector framework for planning, implementing and evaluating services for children birth to third grade. With funding from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, the Lowell Alignment Project is one of five such projects funded within the Commonwealth.
Lowell’s Birth to Third Grade Alignment Project is overseen by Lowell’s Leadership Alignment Team, an 18-member team comprised of representatives from two elementary school, 7 private center-based child care programs, Head Start, and 5 family child care systems, an EPS Regional representative and two Lowell Public School Early Childhood leaders.
A key priority of the Lowell Leadership Alignment Team has been to develop and execute a School Readiness Plan to insure that all Lowell children are ready for kindergarten and beyond. The Plan is informed by the science of early childhood development and by strong programs with demonstrated long-term and meaningful impact on children and families. Dr. Linda Warren of ECA will be presenting key features of the Plan at a city-wide event on the State of Lowell’s Children in May.