Brain research and lifelong achievement studies show that high quality early learning for all children from birth to 5 years of age is of utmost importance; yet, there are numerous obstacles that impede the achievement of this goal.

Join Peninsula Family Service and our community partners to explore these issues and how we can improve and expand the quality of early learning for those who need it most in our community.

This event is made possible by our Champion Event Co-Sponsors:
Choose Children/Silicon Valley Community Foundation, First 5 San Mateo County, and the San Mateo County Office of Education.

The Early Learning Summit

This Summit is the third event in our Peninsula Family Service Thought Leader Series and will be held on October 17, 2018, from 9:00 a.m. to Noon at the Mercy Conference Center in Burlingame.

The purpose of the Peninsula Family Service Thought Leader Series is to engage community partners, experts and the public on topics of vital concern to our community, and work to galvanize action on these issues. Early learning is one of these important topics.

Brain research and lifelong achievement studies show that high quality early learning for all children from birth to 5 years of age is of utmost importance; yet, there are numerous obstacles that impede the achievement of this goal.

Early Learning Summit
Closing the Achievement Gap Before Age 5:
Focus on San Mateo County

Check-In
8:30 a.m.

Welcome & Intro of Emcee
Heather Cleary, CEO, Peninsula Family Service
9:00 a.m.

Framework of Today’s Summit
Dr. Deborah Stipek, Judy Koch Professor of Education,
Stanford University Graduate School of Education
9:10 a.m.

The Early Years and the Achievement Gap
Dr. Sean Reardon Research Group
Stanford University Graduate School of Education
9:25 a.m.

The Importance of the Early Years: Brain Science
Dr. Silvia Bunge, Professor, Psychology &
Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley
9:55 a.m.

The Early Learning Environment: The Plight of our Teachers
Dr. Caitlin McLean, Workforce Research Specialist
Center for the Study of Child Care Employment
UC Berkeley
10:30 a.m.

Panel: Closing the Achievement Gap in San Mateo County
Where are we now? What are the Gaps?
What do we need to do?
Facilitator: Deborah Stipek
11:00 a.m.

Panel Members:
1) Facilities: David Fleishman, Executive Director, 4Cs
2) Teachers and the tools they need
a. Teacher Lift Program: Heather Cleary, Peninsula Family Service
b. Coaching: Kim Bambao, Math Coordinator, San Mateo County Office of Education
3) Family Engagement & Attendance: Andrea Jones, Initiative Officer – The Big Lift

The Funding: Philanthropy
Philanthropy: Why I Fund Early Learning
Liz Simons, Chair of the Board,
Heising-Simons Foundation
11:35 a.m.

The Funding: Governmental – State & Local
State Assemblyman Marc Berman
11:45 a.m.

Summary
Emcee Deborah Stipek
11:55 p.m.

Closing Remarks
Noon

The Early Learning Summit includes a stellar cast of expert speakers on topics including brain research in the earliest years; the impact of the years before age 5 on life-long achievement; the discrepancy between the demand for high-quality early learning spaces and the low number of spaces available; the key ingredients needed to improve and expand the quality of early learning; and much more.

Speakers
 

Kim Bambao
Math Coordinator
San Mateo County Office of Education

Dr. Silvia Bunge
Professor, Psychology & Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute
UC Berkeley

Heather Cleary
Chief Executive Officer
Peninsula Family Service

David Fleishman
Executive Director

4Cs

Andrea Jones
Initiative Officer
The Big Lift

Dr. Caitlin McLean
Workforce Research Specialist
Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, UC Berkeley

Marc Berman
State Assemblyman
California State Legislature

Dr. Sean Reardon Research Group
Stanford University Graduate School of Education

Liz Simons
Chair of the Board
Heising-Simons Foundation

Dr. Deborah Stipek
Judy Koch Professor of Education,
Stanford University Graduate School of Education

Sponsors


The Early Learning Summit is made possible by the generous support
of our Champion Event Co-sponsors:

 

Resources

Presentations

Dr. Deborah Stipek
Getting Down to Facts II
Extensive information regarding the slide below is available at gettingdowntofacts.com

Dr. Sean Reardon
Early Childhood Experiences and Academic Achievement Gaps

Dr. Silvia Bunge
What Brain Science Tells us About Why The Early Years Are so Important

Dr. Caitlin McLean
The Early Learning Environment: The Plight of Our Teachers

Videos

The following videos were presented as part of our speakers’ presentations. Links take you to external sites where you can learn more about these topics.
All links included by kind permission.

Center for the Developing Child – Harvard University
Brain Architecture
Serve and Return
Toxic Stress

Center for the Study of Child Care Employment
Why Do Parents Spend So Much On Child Care, Yet Early Childhood Educators Earn So Little?


News

SF Chronicle
click to view