Stronger States, Stronger Outcomes

One Island with One Vision: Building a Unified Early Literacy System Across Puerto Rico
Consistent early literacy instruction depends on clear expectations, aligned supports, and a shared vision across the early grades. Puerto Rico will share how the Department of Education and Islands Comprehensive Center are strengthening literacy instruction from prekindergarten through grade 1 by building coherence across systems. The work includes codifying grade-level expectations, defining essential practices and outcomes, and developing a shared toolkit with observation indicators and coaching supports. Implemented through a phased clarify-design-pilot process, the approach uses existing SEA leaders, principals, and literacy facilitators to support continuous improvement rather than create parallel structures. Participants will learn how Puerto Rico is aligning policy, professional learning, and instructional practice to build a more consistent and sustainable early literacy system. 

Building School and Teacher Capacity for Play-Based Learning in Oklahoma
Play-based learning is most effective when school leaders and educators understand both its value and how to put it into practice. Oklahoma will share how the Department of Education and REL Southwest co-developed the Leading Early Childhood and Achievement Development initiative to strengthen research-based early learning practices in prekindergarten and kindergarten classrooms. Now in its third cohort, the initiative has trained 69 teachers and 15 school leaders across six districts and has expanded supports through demonstration videos and learning modules for teacher aides. Participants will learn how Oklahoma designed, tested, and sustained a professional learning model that builds educator knowledge, supports high-quality interactions, reduces implementation barriers, and uses federal resources to strengthen evidence-based early childhood instruction.