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New early‑childhood assistant superintendent outlines family engagement tools and literacy resources
Summary
Barry Barber, the new assistant superintendent for early childhood care and education, told the task force the department is emphasizing family engagement through literacy resources, observed classroom quality measures and online professional learning for educators.
Barry Barber, the Louisiana Department of Education's new assistant superintendent for early childhood care and education, told the task force that family engagement is central to improving outcomes and described the department's current resources for families and educators.
Barber said the department offers early learning and development standards crosswalks, a list of publicly funded early childhood classrooms that receive two observations per year, and a professional learning platform (DC Learn) for early childhood educators. On family resources, Barber described online literacy engagement materials, special education resources for families and "Be Engaged" bulletins that show developmental milestones and suggested home activities.
When asked whether the family resources require internet access, Barber and department staff acknowledged the online nature of many materials and recommended libraries, community lead agencies and local childcare resource organizations as pathways to provide printed copies and outreach for families without broadband.
Barber emphasized transitions into kindergarten and said family engagement that starts in early childhood influences later elementary success. "If parents aren't buying into what we're doing, kids are not gonna buy in," he said.
