[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 122 (Tuesday, August 9, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1513-E1514]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               INTRODUCING THE CONTINUUM OF LEARNING ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MAZIE K. HIRONO

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 9, 2011

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Continuum of 
Learning Act. Learning does not start in kindergarten or first grade: 
learning begins at birth. Decades of research have shown that quality 
early learning is foundational to success in school and in life.
  Economists, educators, business leaders, law enforcement officers, 
and military generals agree on the importance of quality early 
learning. By the time they enter kindergarten, children from low-income 
families have developed only half the vocabulary of their well-
advantaged peers. By investing early, we can close achievement gaps 
early and prevent future costs for special education, dropouts, crime, 
incarceration, and dependence on social services later in life.
  A continuum of learning from birth through the early elementary 
grades can strengthen students' success in the K-12 system and beyond. 
The Continuum of Learning Act updates the Elementary and Secondary Act 
(ESEA) to strengthen connections between existing early learning 
programs and the elementary grades.
  I have conducted numerous teacher listening sessions and heard from 
hundreds of educators throughout Hawaii about their needs. Educators 
want more support in doing their jobs.
  This bill, developed with Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, and my 
original cosponsors Walter Jones of North Carolina, Jared Polis of 
Colorado, and Don Young of Alaska, helps educators from Head Start, 
other early childhood education programs, and elementary schools work 
together so young children have a successful transition into the 
elementary grades and beyond.
  The Continuum of Learning Act of 2011 does not contain any new 
spending or create any new programs. It is a research-driven approach 
that integrates early learning considerations within states' and school 
districts' existing K-12 plans. This will strengthen the early 
education efforts for our nation's 21.2 million children under age 5, 
some 86,000 of whom are in Hawaii.
  Without spending any additional taxpayer dollars, this bipartisan 
legislation helps our keiki (children) in Hawaii enter school ready to 
learn and increases their success in the early years. That early 
success puts our students on the path to graduate and compete for the 
best jobs. It is part of our shared legacy for our keiki, to give them 
a brighter future.
  The Continuum of Learning Act makes a set of changes that I hope will 
eventually be included in a bipartisan reauthorization of ESEA. 
Specifically, the bill calls for: States reviewing and revising their 
early learning'guidelines for children ages 0-5 and additional 
standards for grades K-3, including core academic areas and social and 
emotional development like appropriate classroom behavior. Hawaii's 
Good Beginnings Alliance already developed strong early learning 
guidelines for preschool children in 2004; creating or revising state 
teacher certification or licensure in the early elementary grades and 
younger to reflect the specialized knowledge and skills to teach 
children in the birth-to-8 age span; providing training--including 
joint professional development--to early education and elementary 
school teachers in child development and best teaching practices. The 
plan also calls for elementary school principals and administrators to 
participate in professional development geared toward better developing 
elementary school curricula for young learners. Many states currently 
are under-utilizing the use of education funds for this purpose; 
promoting coordination between early childhood and Head Start programs 
and elementary school teachers so children have a supportive transition 
from pre-school to elementary school. For example, a child who receives 
help on language skills or visits by a social worker in preschool can 
continue receiving that help, if needed, when he or she gets to 
kindergarten; assisting elementary schools in being ``ready schools'' 
so all children have the quality teaching, supportive services, and 
family engagement needed for their success. I thank Senators Sherrod 
Brown (D-Ohio) and Kay Hagan (D-North Carolina) for introducing the 
Ready Schools Act, which is included as part of this legislation; 
encouraging schools in need of improvement to use early childhood 
education as a strategy for improving student achievement.
  The Continuum of Learning Act was developed with input from numerous 
national and Hawaii organizations, including: the National Association 
for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the world's largest 
organization of people working with children from birth through age 8. 
Twenty thousand people participate in Hawaii AEYC activities each year; 
the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), 
representing the principals of 33 million children in preschool through 
grade 8. More than 200 of Hawaii's public schools serve elementary-age 
children; the National Head Start Association (NHSA), supporting Head 
Start providers nationwide. In Hawaii, 3,300 children are enrolled in 
Head Start; Pre-K Now; First Five Years Fund (FFYF); the National 
Women's Law Center; Zero to Three; First Focus Campaign for Children; 
Center for Law and Social policy (CLASP); Early Care and Education 
(ECE) Consortium; High Scope Educational Research Foundation.

[[Page E1514]]

  Additional organizations supporting the legislation include: Mission: 
Readiness, a bipartisan group of retired generals advocating education 
for military preparedness; Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, a bipartisan 
organization of criminal justice leaders who understand the importance 
of early education in preventing delinquency and crime later; and 
Mental Health America of Hawai'i because the bill calls for identifying 
and responding to emerging behavioral challenges of all young students.
  Gary Kai of the Hawaii Business Roundtable, whose members believe 
very strongly in the importance of early childhood education, has 
pointed out that research shows that the highest rate of return for 
investments in human capital occurs in a child's earliest years. That's 
why he says ``this education initiative will help to prepare children 
to succeed when they get to kindergarten and to be successful 
throughout their entire school career. Our businesses need the best 
educated workforce possible and they realize that our children must be 
able to compete internationally.''
  I encourage my colleagues to support the Continuum of Learning Act.

                          ____________________