What will California expect of preschoolers? Your input needed!!

The California Department of Education is developing “early learning foundations,” documents that describe what typically developing children can be expected to be able to do at age three and at age four. The first set of “foundations” will be on:
Social/emotional development
English learners
Language and literacy
Mathematics

The department prepared a first draft of the foundations and held invitational sessions in March where “stakeholders” could provide feedback.

Then they revised the foundations and developed new drafts, which you can see online at http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/psfoundations.asp

In April and May they will be holding dozens of “regional input sessions” around the state, open to anyone who wants to go and provide feedback on the second draft, which is planned to go up on the web site April 9. This is a crucial opportunity for people who know and care about young children to influence the expectations that will help shape California’s preschool educational policies!!!

You can see a complete list of times and places for these sessions at:
http://www.sonoma.edu/cihs/cpin/pdf/All%20Region%20Input%20Sessions%20%20(3).pdf

In addition, there will be four public hearings on the foundations, all held 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m:
May 11, 2007 - California Department of Education, Sacramento
May 16, 2007 - Fresno County Office of Education
May 17, 2007 - San Mateo County Office of Education
May 22, 2007 - Los Angeles County Office of Education

I don't really know what the difference is between an "input session" and a "public hearing," but whatever, these are all places and times where you can go and express your views.

You can also provide feedback through the web site where the foundations are posted.

Parents and child care/preschool teachers are the ones who really know little kids. Your experience and wisdom are necessary to make this come out right!