NC Kindergarten Position Statement

Power of K: Kindergarten Position Statement Endorsed by the NC State Board of Education

Download the POK Position Statement

The Primary Team, along with a task force of kindergarten teachers, administrators, consultants and B-K Higher Education faculty has created a position paper: The Power of K: North Carolina Position Statement on Kindergartens of the 21st Century. This paper is in response to the many challenges facing kindergarten teachers across our state and nation. Because the early childhood years, birth through age 8, are the most powerful years for learning, growth and development in the life of a child and because kindergarten holds a place in the education of a student as one of the foundations for the attitudes about learning that children and families will carry with them throughout their years of schooling and beyond, it is critical that NC kindergarten programs provide a solid educational and developmental base for all children. Early childhood professionals across the state have asked that a state-level position be established regarding effective practices in kindergarten.

The Primary Team also realizes that kindergartens today must prepare our students to successfully live and work in the world of the 21st Century. We must prepare our students to be critical thinkers, strong communicators, effective leaders, collaborative team players who are globally aware, literate and active citizens in our world. This position paper outlines the components of engaging and effective programs for our kindergarten students and families that include rigorous and relevant environments and experiences that build positive relationships with each child and family. This paper promotes research and evidenced-based effective practices for working with young children from a variety of circumstances and with varying levels of abilities. This position paper also supports the development of well-trained and knowledgeable kindergarten teachers who can provide the type of environments and experiences that will promote future-ready students. These are teachers who…

• understand kindergarten students’ cognitive, social, emotional and physical development and how this development as well as cultural and socioeconomic characteristics impact how students learn.
• effectively integrate understanding of child development into the subject areas of the NC Standard Course of Study.
• utilize an understanding of children’s diverse developmental needs in order to provide, maintain and advocate for appropriate classroom environments that promote optimal learning opportunities for all students.
• provide appropriately challenging learning opportunities for all children while meeting state and local expectations.
• provide and advocate for curriculum and instructional practices and assessments that are relevant, intentional, integrated and inquiry-based.
• effectively articulate appropriate expectations of students to families, teachers, and administrators.


The Primary Team is excited about the conversations that are occurring across this state and nation related to appropriate expectations and practices in our kindergarten classrooms. There is great potential for North Carolina to, once again, be a leader in the early childhood field by defining and promoting appropriate kindergarten programs for the 21st Century.

We are pleased to announce that this position paper received endorsement from the NC State Board of Education on June 6, 2007.

Along with the Board’s endorsement, The Power of K: NC Position Statement on Kindergartens of the 21st Century, has also received letters of support from the following agencies and organizations:

North Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children
North Carolina Association of Elementary Educators
North Carolina Birth through Kindergarten Higher Education Consortium
The North Carolina Office of School Readiness
First School PK-3 Initiative
Action for Children North Carolina