On March 14–16, 2024, LACOE convened the early education community to ECEvolution: Shaping the Future of Early Education at the Beehive in South Los Angeles. The event featured full-day programs tailored for administrators (Thursday), parents and caregivers (Friday), and educators (Saturday).
Across three days, more than 1,000 participants explored innovative approaches to refresh, inspire, and improve father engagement, inclusive classroom practices, health and nutrition, family childcare, staff recruitment and retention, and mixed delivery of universal prekindergarten.
Thursday morning featured welcomes from County Superintendent Dr. Debra Duardo and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, followed by a panel on mixed-delivery universal prekindergarten from state, federal, and local perspectives. All three days featured a wide variety of workshops, panels, documentary film screenings, and wellness activities.
Participants were invited to explore indoor and outdoor model classrooms for toddlers and preschoolers; experience an inclusive early education classroom in HOPE on Wheels; visit a number of exhibitors; receive vision, dental, and hearing screenings, plus flu and/or COVID vaccines, at HOPE the Bus; partake in wellness activities including chair fitness, sound bath, and massages, among others; and enjoy complimentary lunch from their choice of five food trucks.
Special thanks to all volunteers and participants for making this first-of-its-kind event a resounding success!
For more: https://www.lacoe.edu/news/2023-03-20-head-start-early-education-conference
