A new series of topical briefs from Manhattan Strategy Group (MSG), a management and social services consulting firm, focuses on issues affecting the nation’s youngest learners in Head Start and other early learning programs. The two briefs released under the Early Care and Education Series highlight topics of importance for early childhood professionals: adopting an expansive orientation to school readiness and addressing the unique needs of dual language learners (DLLs).

“Quality early care and education opportunities lead to happier, healthier, and more successful children,” said Marc Mannes, MSG’s Associate Director, Children, Youth, and Families. “We must advance strategies that will address the disparities in access to these opportunities and that provide support that commits to the success of every child.”

The first brief, Advancing a Comprehensive Approach to School Readiness, explores the steps necessary to achieve school readiness for all children, especially the most vulnerable children and families. These steps include increasing families’ access to high-quality early care and education opportunities, an early start to learning, establishing partnerships with families, and ensuring that schools are ready for children.

The second brief, The Case for Cultivating Dual Language Learners’ Home Languages, discusses the benefits of dual language learning and the facility of young children for learning multiple languages. DLLs can continue developing their home language and learn English without sacrificing one for the other. The brief identifies a path forward for supporting the home language and culture of young DLLs’ and their families, including developing new state-level policies, releasing accurate information about second language acquisition, and providing professional development to administrators and educators on evidence-based practices for supporting DLLs.

The full briefs are available at www.manhattanstrategy.com.

About Manhattan Strategy Group (MSG)

Manhattan Strategy Group (MSG), founded in 2001, is a management and social science consulting firm that works with federal, state, and local government agencies and their programs to achieve performance excellence. MSG works to improve education, workforce development, and human services for individuals with barriers to employment, for underserved populations, and for low-income communities, including our efforts on behalf of federal programs serving children, youth, and their families. MSG core services include Technical Assistance, Research & Evaluation, Communication & Information, and Management & Technology.