10 Critical Features

These ten critical features were at the heart of some of our earlier work with FirstSchool, and contributed to the evolution of our approach to PreK-3 reform.  As a result, you will find many of these key elements infused throughout our work with schools.

1. Culturally responsive, engaging and developmentally appropriate curriculum, instruction, and assessment
2. Leadership that promotes and sustains change
3. Teacher preparation and professional development   
4. Foundational processes
5. Seamless education
6. Financing PreK-3 
7. Home-school partnerships
8. Research and evaluation
9. Coordinated school health and wellness
10. Environments that support learning and communication