The world of education reform is often full of arguments and debates, so it’s nice to see growing agreement in that arena about the value of early learning.

This week, the head of one of the nation’s leading teachers’ unions, Randi Weingarten, released a strong endorsement that “All Kids Deserve High-Quality Pre-K.”

Too many students show up for kindergarten unprepared – one report found more than a third of 1,760 Washington state children weren’t ready for school – and that makes a teacher’s job harder, Weingarten, head of the American Federation of Teachers, says in a new video. 

(If kindergarteners are not ready) what happens is kindergarten, first grade, second grade become catch up and it shouldn’t be catch up. Knowing full well what the research says about pre-k we should be ensuring that all kids not just some kids get that experience. -- Weingarten. (Video produced by Pew Charitable Trusts, 10/4/11.) 

Reading to Close the Achievement Gap: Break out “Llama Llama Red Pajama” because tomorrow is Read for the Record, when millions read the same book to highlight the need to close the early education achievement gap. 

On October 6, 2011, more than 2 million voices will call for an end to America's early education achievement gap by reading Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney – setting a world record in the process. – Jumpstart, Read for the Record.

Thanks to The Juggle, which ran an interesting story on “Squeezing in Reading” during the daily juggle of work and family, for highlighting this effort.

Brookings Update: Speaking of the work-family juggle, I just found the policy brief on work-family balance that The Brookings Institution released today. I will have something on the report tomorrow.