A Focus on Teaching and Learning in Pre-K through 2nd Grade: Lessons from Boston

This report explains the work that has taken place over the last decade in Boston Public Schools (BPS). BPS built on their successes in Pre-K by reforming classroom environments, instructional practices, and curricula in Pre-K, kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade. The report describes BPS’s sustained efforts to improve the grades that follow Pre-K and to use research and data to drive continuous improvement. The lessons learned are valuable for states and districts across the country working to build on the gains made as a result of high-quality Pre-K programs.