Skip to main content
Early Learning

Resources (Birth – Grade 3)

Pre-K to Third Grade Learning Continuum

P-3 alignment aims to enhance policy and practice coordination from preschool through third grade and beyond by ensuring both horizontal and vertical consistency across different grades and systems.

Successful P-3 alignment requires:

  • Cross-sector collaboration
  • Joint professional development for administrators and teachers
  • Use of aligned instructional resources and learning environments
  • Data-informed decision-making
  • Active involvement of families
  • Establishment of a seamless educational pathway for students.

The P-3 Instructional Guidance Toolkit can be used by teachers, principals, and instructional support staff to increase the use of effective, equitable P–3 instructional strategies designed to improve learning and close well-documented achievement gaps. The framework of the toolkit is responsive to the diverse cultural, linguistic, socio-economic, and learning needs of children and families across New York State.

P-3 Instructional Guidance Toolkit

The P-3 Instructional Guidance Toolkit was created in cooperation with Sarah Hughes and Kyle Snow, Ph.D., of the RMC Research Corporation. Teachers, principals, and instructional support staff can use this toolkit and its collected tools to increase the use of effective, equitable P–3 instructional strategies designed to improve learning and close well-documented achievement gaps. The framework of the toolkit is responsive to the diverse cultural, linguistic, socio-economic, and learning needs of children and families across New York State.

In July 2021, Sarah Hughes and Kyle Snow shared their presentation of the P-3 Instructional Guidance Toolkit, provided below. During this session, participants are introduced to this resource. Participants will understand the research-base and purpose of the Toolkit, be introduced to the key features of the Toolkit, learn about eight effective instructional strategies and four instructional mindsets, and learn how to use the Toolkit to promote reflection and discussion to support P-3 instruction.

Sarah Hughes is a Senior Research Associate at RMC Research Corporation, and Kyle Snow, Ph.D., currently provides technical assistance to states in early learning topics and provides organization management and leadership in support of U.S. Department of Education Regional Comprehensive Centers.

P-3 Instructional Toolkit Overview

This webinar defines what the P-3 approach is and introduces key features of the P-3 Instructional Toolkit. Teachers, principals, and instructional support staff can use this toolkit and its collected tools to increase the use of effective, equitable P–3 instructional strategies designed to improve learning and close well-documented achievement gaps. The framework of the toolkit is responsive to the diverse cultural, linguistic, socio-economic, and learning needs of children and families across New York State. Participants will understand the research-base and purpose of the Toolkit, be introduced to the key features of the Toolkit, learn about eight effective instructional strategies and four instructional mindsets, and learn how to use the Toolkit to promote reflection and discussion to support P-3 instruction.

The P-3 Instructional Guidance Toolkit was created in cooperation with Sarah Hughes and Kyle Snow, Ph.D., of the RMC Research Corporation. Sarah Hughes is a Senior Research Associate at RMC Research Corporation, and Kyle Snow, Ph.D., currently provides technical assistance to states in early learning topics and provides organization management and leadership in support of U.S. Department of Education Regional Comprehensive Centers.

P-3 Instructional Toolkit Overview

Effective P-3 Instruction

During this session, participants will be introduced to the section of the toolkit that focuses on the why and how instruction plays a role in child outcomes. Participants will hear from Niagara Falls City School District and how they have utilized the P-3 instructional cycle to strengthen student outcomes. The district has been following a cohort of prekindergarten students who enrolled with the district at age three and are entering middle school and will discuss how instruction has adjusted to support students.

P-3 Instructional Guidance Toolkit Webinar - Effective P-3 Instruction

Supporting & Strengthening P-3 Instructional Practices

In this session, participants will look closer at using the toolkit to support and strengthen P-3 instructional practices. Teachers and leaders from Rome City schools will share the district’s journey as they move toward P-3 instructional alignment. During the presentation, there will be examples from Rome of classroom and curriculum transformations that includes the use of play as an instructional strategy.

P-3 Instructional Guidance Toolkit Webinar - Supporting and Strengthening P-3 Instructional Practices

How to Begin a P-3 Approach

Participants will be introduced to the use of the Prekindergarten to Grade 3 Tool which assists districts in creating a plan to implement a P-3 approach. Participants will learn how Watertown City Schools used the tool to identify P-3 approaches and how those approaches have shifted to meet the needs of their families and students.

P-3 Instructional Guidance Toolkit Webinar - How to Begin a P-3 Approach

Prekindergarten to Grade Three Tool

The New York State Education Department worked in collaboration with the Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes and the Northeast Regional Comprehensive Center to develop a companion to the National P-3 framework. This tool is designed to assist with identifying the steps that can guide the plan development or revision. During the P-3 Summer Institute in 2019 participants took a deeper dive into their current P-3 initiatives using the tool. The tool is based off the Framework from the National P-3 Center. 

Pre-K to Kindergarten Transition Tool

Building relationships, partnering and collaboration are extremely important to facilitate the transition of prekindergarten students to kindergarten.

Kindergarten is a time of great change for children, parents, families and schools in which new relationships, new expectations and new competencies are being developed. School Districts and Community Based Programs that serve students who are four years of age should have a comprehensive plan for supporting students and their families as they transition into a K-12 system.

The Planning Tool to Support Effective Transitions from Prekindergarten to Kindergarten will help to determine how complete the school district’s or program’s prekindergarten to kindergarten transition plan is. It may signal areas for improvement for the district or program and areas to work on to ensure a positive start for young children transitioning into the school community.

Pre-K - K Transition Planning Tool for Districts

Pre-K - K Transition Planning Tool for Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)

Transition Tips for Educators and Families