We are thrilled to share that First 10 was named a “Bright Spot” in the CELS Center’s new research brief, Transitions to Kindergarten and Beyond. 
The brief highlights the practices, policies, and conditions that support children and families as they move into kindergarten and through the early elementary grades. It also reinforces something we see every day in First 10 communities: successful transitions are not a single event, but an ongoing process of relationship-building, communication, and alignment across the preK–3 continuum.
The recognition is especially meaningful because the transition to kindergarten is a core priority for First 10. Across our network, we work to coordinate schools, early childhood programs, and community organizations so that families experience stronger relationships, clearer communication, and more connected supports during these transitions. As the brief puts it, “The First 10 initiative represents a broader, field-level effort to align systems and practices across early childhood and elementary education.” We are honored to see this work highlighted as an example of what is possible when communities and states intentionally build continuity for young children and their families.
First 10 also had the opportunity to contribute to the conversation through the State of the Field Research Brief webinar, where we shared examples of preK–3 work across several states. In the webinar, David Jacobson explains how transition-to-kindergarten activities can be transformational and can help launch durable partnerships among schools, early childhood programs, and community agencies. Later in the session, Shana Palmer of Sanford First 10 in Maine shares concrete examples of how Sanford is creatively adapting First 10 strategies to support students, families, and teachers in ways that reflect local needs and strengths.
Shana’s 8-minute presentation provides a great introduction to what First 10 looks like in practice. While our communities share a common commitment to improving continuity across the first decade of children’s lives, each partnership adapts First 10 strategies to its own context. Across the network, communities strengthen relationships with families before kindergarten entry, create joint professional learning across early childhood and elementary settings, and build stronger school-community partnerships. This work supports not only successful kindergarten transitions and transitions through the early grades, but also the larger First 10 goal: helping children and families experience a more connected, supportive, and aligned first decade.
We are grateful to the CELS Center for lifting up this work and for helping advance the broader field’s understanding of what strong transitions can look like from kindergarten and beyond. We invite you to read the research brief and watch the webinar to learn more.