Late this spring, the College of Education and Human Development at Temple University (CEHD) celebrated a new graduating class while looking toward the future. Not just the newly admitted students who will soon arrive on campus, but also those who will be applying to Temple and other colleges 15 years from now—the ones still in diapers today.

Research shows that high-quality early childhood education plays a critical role in shaping that future. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services notes that early learning programs help children build foundational skills in reading, math and self-regulation—skills that support long-term academic success. At the same time, national data from the U.S. Department of Education show that access to early childhood programs remains uneven, with families’ participation and options varying widely based on income, location and availability—a reality reflected in communities like Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania.

"Over the past 10 years, Philadelphia has made great strides to improve early care,” said Barbara Wasik, professor and the PNC Chair in Early Childhood Education. "But work still needs to be done to ensure all young children have access to high-quality early care. This is critical to long-term success, as research shows that children’s early experiences are strong indicators of their future success."

Recently, representatives from Temple University’s CEHD hosted a convening of local thought leaders, researchers, service providers and philanthropic organizations to explore the landscape of early childhood education in North Philadelphia. The goal: to review an assessment of the quality and volume of early childhood education seats, better understand the needs of the community and identify Temple’s role in expanding access and strengthening programs and educators.

This collaborative discovery process is encompassed within the broader Temple Partnership Schools Network (TPSN) initiative, announced earlier this spring and launching on-site this fall. University efforts will be organized around the catchment areas of Mary McCleod Bethune School and Tanner Duckrey School, the launch sites for TPSN, both of which include preschool classes.

 “Place-based impact is the strategy for our work in North Philadelphia and our efforts to produce measurable improvements in educational attainment begins with supporting young children and their families," said CEHD Dean Monika Williams Shealey. "This is deeply connected to the goals of the Temple Partnership Schools Network. We are honored to gather with practitioners, funders and industry experts who share our commitment to providing an outstanding education for all learners.”

Organizers plan to gather this convening quarterly to continue these conversations and align both individual and collective impact efforts with citywide initiatives currently in development.

As Temple looks ahead, these efforts reflect its mission in action, with place-based impact at the center. Together, Temple and its partners are working to ensure that every child in North Philadelphia has the opportunity to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning.