News The Leading Edge of Early Education: Expansion and Improvement for Impact On October 5, 2017, the Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative brought together leaders in early education from across the country for discussions around the delivery of high-quality early learning at scale and its benefit to children and society. Posted September 27, 2017 By News editor Communities across the nation are working on an aspirational and ambitious agenda to dramatically expand access to prekindergarten experiences. Numerous studies have demonstrated the benefits of early learning and created tremendous momentum for policies that bear upon children each day, and yet, there is still little knowledge and few examples in the field to inform and scale high-quality efforts.In this watershed moment, the Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative is gathering researchers, policymakers, advocates, and practitioners from across the country to the Harvard Graduate School of Education for the express purpose of reframing discussions around early education, the delivery of high-quality early learning at scale, and its benefit to children and society.Watch video of the event in full — or broken down into sessions — below: 8:30 a.m. WelcomeKeith Collar, Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Engagement, Harvard Graduate School of Education8:45 a.m. The Leading Edge of Early Education: Today's ConveningStephanie M. Jones, Professor of Education, Harvard Graduate School of EducationNonie K. Lesaux, Academic Dean, Juliana W. and William Foss Thompson Professor of Education and Society, Harvard Graduate School of Education9 a.m. A National Strategy for Early Education and Care Shannon Christian, Director, Office of Child Care, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families9:30 a.m. The Landscape of Early Education Today Kris Perry, Executive Director, First Five Years Fund (moderator)What are the Right Questions to be Asking about the Economics of Early Education? Diane Schanzenbach, Margaret Walker Alexander Professor and Director, The Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern UniversityHow can we Move the Needle on Scaling High-Quality Learning Opportunities? Junlei Li, Co-Director, Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media, Saint Vincent CollegeHow Should Children’s Experiences of Stress and Trauma Drive New Policies and Practices? Renee Boynton-Jarrett, MD, ScD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Boston University & Director, Vital Village Network, Boston Medical Center10:45 a.m. Breakthroughs in Transforming Early Education Learning Environments Archie Jones, Director, Taly Foundation (moderator)Margaret “Peg” Burchinal, Senior Scientist, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillDaphna Bassok, Associate Professor of Education and Public Policy, Curry School of Education, University of VirginiaJason Sachs, Director of Early Childhood, Boston Public SchoolsNoon Lunch: A Conversation with Marian Wright EdelmanCatherine Snow, Patricia Albjerg Graham Professor of Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education (moderator)1:15 p.m. Lessons from Other Policy Initiatives and Problems for Transformation in Early Education Diane Schanzenbach, Margaret Walker Alexander Professor and Director, The Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern UniversityNathan Hendren, Faculty Research Fellow, National Bureau of Economic Research and Professor of Economics, Harvard UniversityAnthony Jack, Junior Fellow, Harvard Society of Fellows and Assistant Professor of Education, Harvard Graduate School of EducationKris Perry, Executive Director, First Five Years Fund (moderator)2:30 p.m. Supporting Children and Families Experiencing Adversity Through High-Quality Early Education Nicki Ruiz De Luzuriaga, Associate Vice President of Capacity Building, Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath)Valerie Maholmes, Chief, Pediatric Trauma and Critical Illness Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human DevelopmentAnita Moeller, Deputy Commissioner for Program Administration, Massachusetts Department of Early Education and CareGail DiRiggi, Associate Commissioner for Family/Community Supports, Massachusetts Department of Early Education and CareStephanie M. Jones, Professor of Education (moderator)3:30 p.m. Early Education and SocietyJames Ryan, Dean and Charles William Eliot Professor of Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education3:55 p.m. Saul Zaentz Tribute4:30 p.m. Reception at Loeb House News The latest research, perspectives, and highlights from the Harvard Graduate School of Education Explore All Articles Related Articles News HGSE Introduces New Certificate in Early Education Leadership The Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative at HGSE offers a unique early education leadership certificate to drive improvement in quality of early education and care. News Pathways to Strong Early Learning Environments The Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative kicked off its professional learning efforts with a one-day convening of policymakers and practitioners at HGSE. News The Leading Edge of Early Childhood Education The Leading Edge of Early Childhood Education brought together leading educators to engage with the latest thinking in building and sustaining high-quality prekindergarten.