"The testimony that I will present for the record this morning will build on the compelling testimony presented by Dr. Pasternack, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) within the U.S. Department of Education. I would like to note that it is a new day in Washington when you can observe two federal departments – the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education – working collaboratively to identify and address issues that are critical to the health and education of our nation’s children. For example, for the first time, the NICHD and OSERS are working hand in hand to ensure that the best research supported by both agencies is integrated and deployed to answer important questions about how to best educate our youngest citizens. Moreover, under the leadership of Secretary Thompson and Secretary Paige, the NICHD is also working closely with Dr. Wade Horn from the Administration for Children and Youth (ACF), Dr. Susan Neuman from the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education and Dr. Russ Whitehurst from the Office of Educational Research and Improvement. This collaboration is designed to develop a coordinated effort to ensure that children from conception to adulthood have access to the most supportive and instructive early childhood environments, preschool, and kindergarten experiences that lead to optimal cognitive, social, emotional, and academic development. Let me now turn to the critical issues to be addressed today."
