State Education Department Hosts P-3 Summer Institute to Bolster Early Education Learning Programs Statewide

The New York State Education Department hosted the 2023 P-3 Summer Institute, in partnership with the Council on Children and Families, for teachers and administrators responsible for designing programs for students along the P-3 Continuum, Commissioner Betty A. Rosa announced today. Session topics focused on literacy, P-3 instructional tools, cultural education resources, and supporting English Language Learners (ELLs) and students with disabilities. The Department and New York State Board of Regents are committed to providing the necessary resources and professional development, so all New Yorkers have access to a high-quality education that has a focus on literacy and numeracy at its core.

Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. said, “Equitable access to world class early learning programs is essential to level the playing field and ensure that all children have the same opportunity to develop the crucial cognitive, social, and emotional skills necessary to be successful at a young age. By addressing disparities early, students are better prepared for school, leading to improved academic performance and reducing the achievement gaps that often widen as they progress through their educational endeavors. I thank all of the educators that attended today’s institute and encourage them to bring what they have learned back to their school communities.”

Commissioner Rosa said, “Early education is the bedrock of a student’s lifelong learning journey, and the topics such as literacy, social emotional learning, and cultural education, that were discussed at the P-3 Summer Institute are the building blocks that will create a strong foundation for every student in our state. Literacy is an essential skill that opens the door to exploring ideas, discovering opportunities, developing self-expression, and experiencing beautiful prose. These early experiences shape a person’s attitude toward learning, trust in the education system, and confidence in acquiring new knowledge throughout their lifetime, which will contribute to a more inclusive and educated generation. Thank you to our partners at the New York State Council on Children and Families for their work on this and thank you to all who attended the institute for their commitment to New York’s students and our future.”

Over 220 educators from across the state gathered at the New York State Museum for the first in-person P-3 Summer Institute since before the pandemic. The keynote addresses and remarks by Chancellor Young and Commissioner Rosa were live streamed to accommodate those who were unable to travel. The event consisted of keynotes and breakout sessions focusing on research-based practices and the science of reading to effectively support young children’s learning and development. In addition to the keynote speakers, presenters included district and BOCES leaders who discussed the best policies and practices to support our school communities in creating a learning environment that reflects developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate practices and instruction.

Keynotes include:

Ronald Ferguson, PhD, a lecturer at the Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government, provides active thought leadership for the Basics Learning Network. Dr. Ferguson’s research, writing, and consulting focuses on issues of education and economic development.

Nonie Lesaux, PhD, is a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education whose research focuses on promoting the language and literacy skills of today’s children from diverse backgrounds. Dr. Lesaux partnered with NYSED in 2018 to develop a series of literacy briefs to offer deeper explanation of concepts embedded in the state’s Next Generation Learning Standards.

Sessions were designed to address some of the most pressing issues in early education and will include:

• Literacy and Early Learning
• Supporting Multilingual Learners
• Student Behavior and Social Emotional Learning
• P-3 Continuum Overview
• Office of Cultural Education Resources

Through our partnership with the New York State Council on Children and Families, this project is supported by the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Initiative (PDGB5) Grant, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care.