Mobilizing Communities to Nurture NextGen Leaders –

Right from the StartPresenters

Brigitte Blom Ramsey, United Way of Greater Cincinnati/N KYTerry Tolan, KY Governor’s Office of Early Childhood

With Joe Roberts, KY Head Start Collaboration Office and Kevin Nix, Director for Early Childhood, JCPS

Agenda•Why invest in early childhood?

•Where we are today: Screener results 2013-2014

•What is happening at the state level

•Local Strategies

•Local Best Practices • Three things you can do to support kindergarten readiness in

your community

Why Invest In Early Childhood

Brain growth versus public expenditureson children ages 0-18

0

20

40

60

80

100

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18Age

Percent

cumulative percent ofpublic spending onchildren 0-18

percentage of total braingrowth

90 percent of public expenditures occur after age five, after 90% of brain development has occurred.

Source: Rand Corporation

Importance to ChildrenGaps Start Early

Cum

ulati

ve V

ocab

ular

y (W

ords

)

1200

600

200

16mo 24mo 36mo

Age (months)

College EducatedParents

Working ClassParents

Source: Hart & Risley (1995)

WelfareParents

State AlignmentAll Sectors Moving in the Same Direction

SchoolReady

Head StartEarly Head

Start

State FundedPre-

Kindergarten

CommunityBased Child Care &Home Care

College and Career Ready

Why are the early years so important?

The transition from primary grades to intermediate grades

Learn to Read Read to LearnPre-K to third grade 4th grade and up

“Learning to read by the end of third grade is the most important predictor of success for children. If children have not learned to read by that time, they will be unable to read to learn in the upper elementary and secondary grades.”

Terry Holliday, KY Education Commissioner

Kentucky’s Business Model

Children Enter Kindergarten Ready

High Quality Early Learning

EnvironmentsSupportive Families

Access to Data for Community

Planning

Participation in STARS

A great early childhood workforce

Families understand child health and

developmental needs

Common Kindergarten

Entry Screener

Scholarships & PD Plans Families are

engaged

Children have access to

appropriate services

Data is shared by early

childhood programs

Why is Kentucky Screening Kindergarteners?

• Inform decision-making about early childhood systems

• Identify our statewide and local challenges• Mobilize communities• Allow us to communicate results of our work• To demonstrate “return on investment”• To encourage continuous improvement

• Aligns with readiness definition• BRIGANCE® Kindergarten Screener was used by all

Kindergarten programs in 2013• Does not determine eligibility

• Identifies kids who need help or enrichment early

• Use to work with parents, public preschool and private

providers, community leaders

• Prior settings data will be treated as confidential

Common Kindergarten Entry Screener

But how are the children doing?• 2014Screener results

Ready49%

Not Ready51%

- Children Screened: 50,532

- Children Ready: 49 percent

- Children Not Ready: 51 percent

•The kindergarten readiness screener data is available in the supplemental data section of KDE’s Open House and will be added to the school report card in the fall.

State-Level Strategies

• Community Early Childhood Councils (CECC)

• Early Childhood Profiles• Toyota bornlearning® Academies• Race to the Top – Early Learning

Challenge (RTT-ELC)

… a vehicle for bringing together many community members to support issues of importance to children and families.

… addresses the unique needs and strengths of local communities related to early childhood.

Community Early Childhood Councils (CECCs)

Community Early Childhood Councils (CECCs)make it happen at the local level!

• School District• Head Start/ Early Head Start• Child Care• Family Resource Centers • Resource & Referral Agency• Early Intervention• Cooperative Extension• United Way/Success by 6

• Public Library• Regional Training Centers• Community Action Agency• Health care professionals/

health department• College or tech schools• Parents/Foster parents• Government• Early childhood advocates• Business Community

CECC Activities Over TimeActivity Summary 2010-11 to Current

FY 2010-11

FY 2012-13

FY 2011-12

Governor’s Office of Early ChildhoodUsing Screener Data to Support School Readiness

• Combine Screener results with additional EC related data

• Displays data on a County level with a State Summary

• Provide a easy-to-use tool with actionable data elements

• Informs Councils and Communities on their efforts to improve School Readiness

• Created in partnership with• Governor’s Office of Early Childhood• Kentucky Department of Education• Early Childhood Advisory Council• Kentucky Center for Employment

Workforce Statistics• Cabinet for Health and Family Services

http://kentuckyp20.ky.gov/Reports/EarlyChildhoodProfile/default.aspx

Adding an additional 150 through competitive processManaged through FRYSCs

•Expanded Rating System to include preschool and Head Start

•Expansion of Toyota bornlearning® Academies

• Integration of Strengthening Families

•Enhanced Professional Development

• Integration of PD Registry

•Expansion of the Longitudinal Data System

(RTT-ELC) KY All STARS: Our Proposal

• Greater recognition for high quality programs

• More access to technical assistance• Greater access to appropriate

professional learning opportunities for EC staff

• A unified professional workforce registry

• More opportunities to have Toyota bornlearning® Academies

(RTT-ELC) KY All STARS: What it means for districts

Local Strategies

• Hazard/Perry County Collaboration• Madison County Partnership• OVEC – CECC Partnership• Jefferson County EC Task Force• Head Start District Partnerships

Hazard, Perry County Partnership at New Beginnings Learning Center

3 STAR-Rated CenterFull-Day, Full-Week, Year-Round

New Collaborations:New BeginningsHead StartPublic Preschool

Funded by:Child Care Assistance ProgramPrivate feesUSDA Food Program21st Century Learning Center

Kindergarten Readiness in Perry County2012 – 14% Ready2013 – 40% Ready

Child Care – 61% Ready

Local Strategies

• Madison County Partnership with Child Care

• OVEC – CECC Partnership leveraging RTT

JCPS Early Childhood Task Force

School Readiness in Kentucky School readiness means that each child enters school ready to engage in and benefit from early learning experiences that best promote the child’s success and ability to be Ready to Grow, Ready to Learn & Ready to Succeed.

·Child is curious·Has the ability to focus and listen·Continues in tasks that are challenging ·Child plays in groups or pairs based on interest ·Child initiates learning experiences

·Sorts and classifies objects·Is learning to identify basic colors·Is learning to recognize name and general shapes·Counts up to 30·Counts sets of objects up to 10

·Eats a balanced diet·Gets plenty of rest·Receives immunizations ·Receives regular medical and dental care·Runs, jumps and does other activities

·Is learning to play and share with others·Follows simple rules and routines·Shows curiosity·Is learning to explore new things·Is learning to work alone

·Knows full name·Is learning to write own name·Uses pictures to tell stories·Is learning home address·Speaks in five or six word sentences

What does

School Readiness

mean?

Local CollaborationsHead Start and School Districts

Value of developing collaborations

• Benefits for children – collaborations increase resources for families

• Maximizes federal and state funds to reach the highest number of eligible families

• Shared learning opportunities• Cost shifting or cost sharing• Engaging families and communities• Leveraging other organizations (ex.

Businesses, CECCs, etc.)• Exchange of value between both parties

The result: More children enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school and in life

Local CollaborationsElements of Success

What characteristics are present in effective Collaborations?

Chemistry• Right people at the table• Strong leadership• Effective implementation

Dedication• Frequency of meetings• Strength of messaging

Innovation• Looking beyond barriers• Solution/Strength oriented• Seeks assistance

Preparing children for kindergarten is a COMMUNITY issue

Things Districts Can Do

1. Change the community conversation

COMMONVISION

Kindergarten Ready

Graduation from High School

College and Career Ready

Things Districts Can Do

2. Work with community partners

CECCs

Private Providers

Head Start

Things Districts Can Do

3. Communicate with parents

Distribute parent guides

Share Brigance Results

Born Learning Academies

Kentucky’s premier professional learning opportunity

for early childhood professionals & advocates

June16-18, 2014Galt House Hotel - Louisville, Ky.

Follow us on Twitter @Ready_kids

SAVE THE DATE

Thank You!

http://kidsnow.ky.govhttp://facebook.com/GOEChttp://twitter.com/GOEC

Web and Social Media

Governor’s Office of Early Childhood125 Holmes St.Frankfort, KY(502)782-0200

Contact Information