Early Childhood Continuums

Support and Scale Innovative Practice

The community-based Early Childhood Continuum initiative brings together health care providers, family support services, public, public charter, and independent school pre-k-12 education leaders, early childhood educators, and families and community members to create stronger developmental pathways for all keiki so that they reach kindergarten healthy, safe and ready to thrive, and making sure that they are excelling in third grade.

The continuums are demonstrating that when communities invest in the health, safety and early learning of low-income and at-risk children, they can fundamentally improve outcomes for a generation of kids.

In October, the two Hawai‘i early childhood continuums were joined by five national organizations: Strive Together, Levado, Save the Children, the Education Commission of the States, and Partners for Rural Impact. These allies came to Pāhoa and Waimānalo to meet with the project teams and learn from the work happening in each community, share their insights and learnings from work taking place across the country, and look for opportunities to help accelerate progress and explore pathways to sustainability.

My mind and heart are full from the powerful community summits - what a gift to spend time with local leaders and residents and learn more about their work, their communities, and the beautiful visions they hold for their keiki.

Katie Basham, Associate Vice President, Implementation & Practice, Partners for Rural Impact

Representatives of the Pāhoa Promise and the Waimānalo Early Education ‘Upena, along with national partners, meeting with key state leaders including the Lieutenant Governor, legislative leaders, and the Superintendent of Education to discuss the long term outcomes of community-based, collective action in supporting school readiness and academic achievement.