Early childhood education in the United States: emphasis on diverse learners

The article addresses the issue of meeting the learning needs of linguistically and culturally diverse students entering early childhood classrooms in the United States. The author begins with the discussion of legislation and policy change, its impact on teaching and practice and academic success of children. In the subsequent parts of the paper, she considers the role of the teacher in providing children with appropriate strategies to promote development and learning in the classroom. The author also focuses on a problem of encouraging active involvement of parents and families in their children’s education. She claims that it is a partnership with the parents that will benefit the students in the classroom and their academic success. In her concluding remarks, the author states that in a changing world the focus, which will benefit diverse learners, must be maintaining high quality programs and preparing early childhood professionals.