From left: SXSWedu Conference & Festival panelists Anne Cunningham, human development professor at University of California, Berkley; Jacquie Porter, Austin ISD director of early childhood education; Kelly Fisher, assistant director of the Science of Learning Institute at Johns Hopkins University; and Susan Magsamen, senior vice president of early learning for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; discuss early childhood education.[/caption] Early childhood education was the focus of one SXSWedu Conference & Festival panel discussion featuring an Austin ISD staffer. AISD Director of Early Childhood Jacquie Porter said there are major components for a child’s success early in life, including parents and professional development for teachers. “Family is not only the child’s first teacher,” Porter said. “They will be with the child the entire time.”

Porter added that AISD has provided a Pre-K program since 1985, and in the 2015-16 school year launched half-day Pre-K for three-year-old students.

The recent pre-K expansion in AISD started on a pilot basis in the 2014-15 school year at Oak Springs and Zavala elementary schools in East Austin. The expansion to 11 additional schools came about through a United Way for Greater Austin grant.

Panel moderator Susan Magsamen, senior vice president of early learning for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, asked panelists what the biggest barrier is for translating early childhood research into educational practice. Porter said there cannot be ‘one size fits all’ approach to translation, and the parent, teacher and administrator all have to be involved.