Our monthly Pre-to-3 column follows what's happening in early learning policy, research and practice.  ​

Pre-to-3: Early-childhood community looks to new Opportunity Zone program to improve facilities The Bipartisan Policy Center has also released a new framework to guide policies and standards for classrooms.

Pre-to-3: Researchers find more reasons why the arts are good for young children Early exposure to the arts is key, researchers say — and may be especially crucial for children with the greatest needs — because students’ participation has been associated with higher achievement.

Pre-to-3: What can countries with high-performing early-childhood systems teach the US? In a new book, a leading researcher details lessons learned from an examination of policies and programs for young children in countries including Australia, Finland and Singapore.

Pre-to-3: Film shows early-childhood as a 'grown-up issue' "No Small Matter" is being screened in California and Ohio as part of efforts to get gubernatorial candidates to focus on children's issues.

Pre-to-3: Application period for Preschool Development Grants opens: As part of ESSA, 40 states could receive awards ranging from $500,000 to $10M to improve services for children, birth to age 5.

Pre-to-3: Young black men explore a pathway to early-childhood education. The Leading Men Fellowship provides extra literacy support in the early years while also preparing young black men to be more successful in college. 

Pre-to-3: Spreading awareness of early-childhood education — with Elmo's help. Using Sesame Street’s educational materials, the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce hopes to start a movement in the bi-state region.

Pre-to-3: Research finds reading aloud has many benefits, from birth on. That's why to prevent summer slide, a North Carolina district purchased thousands of books to keep students reading with their families during the break. 

Pre-to-3: Research-to-practice network focuses on NYC pre-K. Lessons learned are expected to inform early education nationwide.

Pre-to-3: 20 years of NJ's Abbott pre-k provides lessons for other states. Leaders look ahead to expansion of the model.

Pre-to-3: It's legislative season — time to take another look at kindergarten policies. In many states, kindergarten still isn’t treated like 1st through 12th grade.

Pre-to-3: Study examines drama's links to early literacy: Theatrical approaches give students 'another language' to show what they’ve learned.

Pre-to-3: What is an early-childhood education professional? And what does that question mean for K-12 administrators?

Pre-to-3: Early educators head to Atlanta: A featured session at the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s annual conference is set to focus on technology use in early childhood.

Pre-to-3: Global Read Aloud connects young readers around the world: Roughly two million students from 80 countries are expected to participate in the event this year.

Pre-to-3: New mapping tool provides a data snapshot of youngest students:An Urban Institute tool is giving school and district leaders a more accurate view of future kindergartners