All students’ learning has been impacted by the pandemic but for the youngest children, their entire schooling experience has been interrupted the last two years. Many 5- to 7-year-olds will be in a formal instructional classroom setting for the first time this coming fall, while-8 year-olds entering third grade will be entering their first continuous year of classroom instruction—and facing a high-stakes assessment in spring 2022. A recent EdWeek article spotlighted the impact on early learners and their teachers. Children in Kindergarten and First Grade showed disproportionately greater losses in academic gains as compared to older students, especially among Black and Latino students. In the July 2021 report from the Early Learning Study at Harvard, authors noted that, “While there is legitimate worry about making up potential losses in opportunities to build foundational academic skills and competencies, jumping to closing gaps without close attention to the social and emotional needs of children will likely only exacerbate any disruption-related behavioral challenges.” Young learners will need a different approach to accelerated learning, with more time and support for adjusting to school behaviors. The report also recommended professional supports for educators to ensure they have access to developmentally appropriate resources for foundational skills, trauma-informed behavioral interventions, and social-emotional learning. Strengthening partnerships with and supports for families and parents is a third recommendation of the Harvard study. Read the Early Learning Study at Harvard