This research project works to identify early education practices associated with successful school readiness for all children. Focus areas are ready children (health and physical well-being, language and literacy, cognition and general knowledge, and social-emotional skills), ready families, and ready schools.

Universal design of early education means designing environments, curriculum and instruction so that all young children with their diverse and individual strengths and needs have meaningful access, are engaged, and are learning.

Promoting school readiness by applying universal design principles to early education involves:

1. The design of the physical environment, enabling all children to have access and equitable opportunities for full participation in all program activities. This includes structures, permanent and movable equipment and furnishings, storage, and materials.
2. The design of health and safety program components, minimizing risks and hazards for all children. It ensures all children, regardless of health status or condition, have ongoing access to early care and education by minimizing interruptions to their learning due to illness and injury.
3. The design of the social-emotional environmnt, offering all children equitable access and full membership to the social-emotional life of the group, and supporting their social-emotional development.
4. The design of the instructional environment, enabling all children equitable access to learning opportunities and multiple means for engagement and learning. This includes the curriculum, instructional practices, materials, and activities.
5. The design of individual assessment and program evaluation practices, providing multiple approaches to finding out what children know and can do in order to equitably assess individual learning, development, and educational progress.
6. The design of family involvement practices, supporting the equitable access and engagement of all families in the full range of experiences. This includes ongoing communication, learning opportunities, and program involvement activities.

The early childhood briefing paper series: All children ready for school:

• Approaches to learning
• Cognition and general knowledge
• Getting a good start with infants and toddlers
• Health and physical well-being
• Ready families
• Ready schools
• Social-emotional development
• Series bibliography by topic

The universal design of early education: Moving forward for all children