The Science of Early Learning: A Foundation for Expanding Opportunity
Event Summary
While much of the debate around early childhood education usually focuses on the push for universal pre-k, Thursday’s conversation at AEI focused on what children need to build a sturdy foundation for brain architecture before they enter school. In a discussion with AEI’s Katharine Stevens and Robert Doar, Jack Shonkoff, director of Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child, outlined the basic principles of neuroscience in the development of young children, illustrating just how crucial the early years are in shaping life outcomes.
Shonkoff went on to articulate the ways in which science provides a common ground for policymakers to come together to improve opportunities for children and families. He emphasized the need for continued innovation and experimentation in understanding what works best — and least — for whom, and how that knowledge can be used to more effectively scale best practices and improve outcomes for more children and the adults who care for them.
Event Description
What can recent discoveries in neuroscience, molecular biology, and genomics teach us about how to strengthen the early building blocks of academic achievement, economic productivity, and responsible citizenship? What is it about the stresses associated with poverty, violence, maltreatment, and neglect in childhood that can have lifelong effects? And how can science be harnessed to improve opportunity for disadvantaged children?
We welcome you to join us as Jack P. Shonkoff, director of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, discusses his work leading an innovative collaboration of researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and investors in developing new approaches to strengthening early foundations for vulnerable children in America.
Agenda
3:15 PM
Registration
3:30 PM
Opening remarks:
Katharine B. Stevens, AEI
3:35 PM
Keynote address:
Jack Shonkoff, Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child
4:05 PM
Conversation:
Robert Doar, AEI
Jack Shonkoff, Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child
Katharine B. Stevens, AEI
4:40 PM
Q&A
5:00 PM
Reception
See Also
Essay ~ February 22, 2017
Video ~ January 25, 2018
Blog ~ October 17, 2016