Voluntary Prekindergarten Our Journey into School Year Programs

Heidi Kochis, Ed. S.

Voluntary Prekindergarten/Title I Early Learning

Volusia County Schools

Volusia County Schools VPK Programsserving 4 year old students one year before kindergarten

Program Implemented

State Mandated Summer VPK

F.S. 1002.532005 - 2006

Employee ESE/Blended 2007 - 2008

Title I Early Learning Initiative 2013 - 2014

Community/Blended * 2014 - 2015

Additional Prekindergarten Programs

Non VPK

ESE Partial and Full Day Programs

• 3 & 4 year old identified ESE students

• 1 teacher, 1 paraprofessional

• speech and language / OT & PT services

• 8-10 students

Head Start /ESE Blended Programs

• 3 & 4 year old Head Start and VCS / ESE students

• 1 Volusia teacher, 1 paraprofessional

• 1 Head Start teacher, 1 Head Start assistant

• 18 students dually enrolled

Summer VPK State Mandated- F.S. 1002.53

• 4 or 5 year old community students beginning kindergarten in the fall

• 1 certified teacher per 12 students / 1 TOA for compliance regulations

and mandated assessments

• 300 hours of instruction during the summer prior to kindergarten - 8 weeks

• typically 9 ½ hr days M - TH to meet the required 300 hrs of instruction

• summer sites vary to meet the needs of our program feeder patterns

Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Models

Employee VPK/ESE Blended

• 10 typically developing / 8 identified ESE

• 3 & 4 year old students (4 year old typically developing - VPK)

• 1 Certified ESE Pre-K teacher (VPK) / 1 CDA (VPK) / 1 paraprofessional

• Typical school day with extended hours for employees’ children

Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Models

Edgewater Public

Enterprise

Forest Lake

Pathways

Pride

Spirit

Spruce Creek

New To Our District…

VPK-Title I Early Learning Initiative

• 18 -20 four year old typically developing students eligible for Title I

• 1 certified prekindergarten teacher

• 1 highly qualified paraprofessional IV

• 540 hrs VPK instruction 3 hours a day

• 540 hrs Title I Early Learning instruction 3 hrs a day and PLUS I

Phase I Schools

2013 - 2014

Pierson

Turie T. Small

Westside

Phase II Schools

2014 - 2015

McInnis Starke, 2* units

Orange City Sugar Mill

Palm Terrace Turie T. Small

Pierson, 2 units Westside

372

278

195205

215

167176 169

151

0

219

35

66 65

45

104

231

8 10 13 15 12 15 16 22

89105

113127

143 144 151

175

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

4002

00

5-0

6

20

06

-07

20

07

-08

20

08

-09

20

09

-10

20

10

-11

20

11

-12

20

12

-13

20

13

-14

20

14

-15

NU

MB

ER

YEAR

VCS Summer Students

VCS School Year Students

Private Providers Summer

Private Providers School Year

Volusia County Schools VPK

Curriculum

Readiness Rates

Assessments

Needs

Pre-K ~ Kindergarten

Curriculum Standards

Standards for 4-year-olds Kindergarten Standards

Domain: Language, Communication

& Literacy - Reading Benchmark b:

Child names most letters correctly when

shown upper or lowercase letters.

LAFS.K.RF.1.1

Recognize and name all uppercase and

lowercase letters of the alphabet.

Domain: Language, Communication

& Literacy - Reading Benchmark a:

Child can distinguish individual words within

spoken phrases or sentences.

LAFS.K.RF.1.1

Understand that words are separated

by spaces in print.

FLDOE/Office of Early Learning

Provider Accountability

VPK Readiness Rate is calculated using FLKRS

(Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener )

Includes FAIR – FS and WSS

Passing scores:

• 70% of students at each VPK site must pass both sections of FLKRS.

• less than 70% of students passing FLKRS determines a low performing

status- Provider on Probation

Provider on Probation must:

• use an approved curriculum

• submit improvement plan to FLDOE/Office of Early Learning

• provide additional professional development for instructors

• submit “Good Cause Exemption” if probation continues beyond 2 years

• if exemptions are not granted, providers are closed

2015-2016 will include VPK assessment growth AP1 – AP3

District Area

Program Type2010 -2011

Readiness

Rate 2011-2012

Readiness

Rate 2012-2013

Readiness

Rate

SW

School Year

Forest Lake 100% Forest Lake 100% Forest Lake 100%

Spirit 100% Spirit 100% Spirit 100%

Enterprise 75% Enterprise 100%

Friendship 100% Friendship 100%

SW

Summer

Debary 75% Enterprise 100% Orange City 89%

Spirit 76% Deltona Lakes 57% Timbercrest 75 %

West

School YearBlue Lake 100%

West

SummerWoodward 67% Citrus Grove 65% George Marks

67%

NW

SummerPierson 78% McInnis 78% Pierson 71%

NE

School YearPine Trail 100% Pathways 100% Pathways 80%

NE

SummerWestside 52% Holly Hill 70% Palm Terrace 75%

Turie T Small 73%

East

School Year

Horizon 100%

Spruce Creek 100% Spruce Creek 100% Spruce Creek 100%

SE

School YearEdgewater 100% Edgewater 75% Edgewater 89%

SE

Summer

So. Daytona 55% Sugar Mill 64% Spruce Creek 81%

Indian River 90% Read Pattillo 94% Indian River 87%

What Our VPK Assessments Show Summer VPK Comparison

92%

86%

83%

91%

83%

79%78%

83%

70%

75%

80%

85%

90%

95%

Print Knowledge Phonological Awareness Mathematics Oral Language Vocabulary

AV

ERA

GE

OF

STU

DEN

T SC

OR

ES

2013-14 VPK AP3 ASSESSMENT

2013-2014 VOLUNTARY PRE-KINDERGARTENEARLY LEARNING COALITION/VOLUSIA COUNTY SCHOOLS

Early Learning CoalitionDistrict-Wide Average

VCS Summer ProgramDistrict-Wide Average

VPK School Year Program ComparisonEmployee Blended & VPK Title I Programs

92%

86%

83%

91%

97%

92%

90% 90%

75%

80%

85%

90%

95%

100%

Print Knowledge Phonological Awareness Mathematics Oral Language Vocabulary

AV

ERA

GE

OF

STU

DEN

T SC

OR

ES

2013-14 VPK AP3 ASSESSMENT

2013-2014 VOLUNTARY PRE-KINDERGARTENEARLY LEARNING COALITION/VOLUSIA COUNTY SCHOOLS

Early Learning CoalitionDistrict-Wide Average

VCS School Year ProgramDistrict-Wide Average

Changes for Summer VPK

Community & District Concerns

Instructional days are too long

32 days: 7:37am - 5:30 pm

No time for a “Meet the Teacher”

Post Planning not within regular work

hours extending the day even longer

VPK assessments mandated and take

time to individually administer

Programs are placed on “ probation” for

low performing FLKRS scores

Solutions

Extend the number of days to

35 days: 7:50 am - 5:00 pm

Preplanning day will offer a

“Meet the Teacher”

Last day early release with Completion

Ceremony and Parent Literacy Workshop

TOA’s will cover teacher lunch breaks,

assist with curriculum needs and

administer VPK assessments

Decrease the summer program need by

expanding – School Year Programs

Baseline VPK AssessmentsPhase I Schools

58% 57% 56%

77%

42%

57%

50%

64%

33%36%

38%

59%

50% 50%

44%

68%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Print Knowledge Phonological Awareness Mathematics Oral Language Vocabulary

AV

ERA

GE

OF

STU

DEN

T SC

OR

ES

2013 - 2014 VPK AP1 ASSESSMENT

2013 - 2014 VOLUNTARY PRE-KINDERGARTENEARLY LEARNING COALITION/VCS TITLE I -VPK

Early Learning CoalitionDistrict-Wide Average

Turie T. Small Elementary

Pierson Elementary

Westside Elementary

VPK End of Year AssessmentsPhase I Schools

92%

86%83%

91%92% 93%

83%78%

92%

86%83%

74%

100%

93% 94% 96%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

Print Knowledge Phonological Awareness Mathematics Oral Language Vocabulary

AV

ERA

GE

OF

STU

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2013 - 2014 VPK AP3 ASSESSMENT

2013 - 2014 VOLUNTARY PRE-KINDERGARTENEARLY LEARNING COALITION/VCS TITLE I VPK

Early Learning CoalitionDistrict-Wide Average

Turie T. Small Elementary

Pierson Elementary

Westside Elementary

What It Means To Give Equity In Learning

34%

29%27%

14%

50%

36%33%

14%

59%

50%

45%

15%

50%

43%

50%

28%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Print Knowledge Phonological Awareness Mathematics Oral Language Vocabulary

PER

CEN

T O

F G

RO

WTH

PER

MEA

SUR

E

GROWTH FROM VPK AP1 ASSESSMENT TO VPK AP3 ASSESSMENT

2013-2014 VOLUNTARY PRE-KINDERGARTEN GROWTHEARLY LEARNING COALITION/VCS VPK-TITLE I

Early Learning CoalitionDistrict-Wide Average

Turie T. Small Elementary

Pierson Elementary

Westside Elementary

2013-2014

Employee VPK/ ESE Blended

43%

19%25%

40%

96%

70%76% 74%

78%

70%67%

83%

100%97%

100%97%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

Print Knowledge Phonological Awareness Mathematics Oral Language Vocabulary

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AP1 and AP3 VPK ASSESSMENT

2013-2014All Blended VPK/ESE Sites

Edgewater, Enterprise, Forest Lake, Pathways, Pride, Spirit, Spruce Creek

ESE AP1

ESE AP3

GEN ED AP1

GEN ED AP3

The Curriculum Connection To Kindergarten

VPK Summer & Phase I Early Learning Initiative focus:

• Social/emotional readiness implemented into curriculum

• Letter /sound fluency skills instructionally targeted everyday with

developmentally appropriate practices.

Goal:

VPK/Title I and Summer VPK students will enter kindergarten ready to receive

instruction with district SIPPS (Systematic Instruction in Phonological

Awareness, Phonics, and Sight Word) curriculum program.

SIPPS Kindergarten Baseline needs: 20/26 letter fluency (77% mastery)

to enter early emergent reading instruction.

Phase I VPK Enters Kindergarten

65%

56%

41%

72%

87%83%

71%

87%

69%

60%

35%

72%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Upper CaseLetter Fluency

Lower CaseLetter Fluency

Letter SoundFluency

Mathematics

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DATA PROVIDED BY 2014-2015 KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS

Kindergarten Baseline Entry SkillsComparison of VPK Program Averages

Phase I SchoolsPierson, Turie T. Small and Westside

2014-15 SY students who may or maynot have attended PRIVATE VPK

2014-15 SY students who completedVCS VPK/Title I Program

2014-15 SY students who completed VCSVPK Summer Program

How We Made It Happen

Collaboration

Within our district: needs assessments, facility space, curriculum & materials

With the Early Learning Coalition of Flagler and Volusia : determine areas

of greatest need – working with Head Start and Private Providers to offer common

PD and ensure we are all working toward kindergarten readiness

“We are all in this together.”

VPK School Year – TOA’s

Professional Development

• FLKRS Review

• VPK Assessments

• Assessment Implications

• Standards for Four-Year-Olds

• Emergent Literacy

• Learning Concerns

• Managing Challenging Behaviors

• Coordinating PD - ESOL for ECE

• Coordinating PD - iPad Training

• Coordinating Peer Classroom Visits

Compliance Monitoring

• Teacher instruction

• Operational VPK hours ( 3hr)

• Attendance

• FLKRS Readiness Rate Review

• Parent sign-in/sign-out

• Monthly certification forms ELCFV/OEL

• VPK Assessment mandated AP1- AP3

• New Assessment mandated 2015-16

• VPK/FLDOE OEL conference calls

• Summer Compliance Training

• Summer Program set up & close out

Phase II AP1- AP2 Growth

22%

29%

52%

18%

87%84%

90%94%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Print Knowledge Phonological Awareness Oral Language Vocabulary Mathematics

STU

DEN

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DIN

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ECTA

TIO

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VPK ASSESSMENT AP1 & AP2

2014-2015 VPK/TITLE I EARLY LEARNING INITIATIVEProgram-Wide Average Per Measure

McInnis, Orange City, Palm Terrace, Pierson, Starke-Class A, Sugar Mill, Turie T. Small and Westside

AP1

AP2

Blended AP1- AP2 Growth

48%

37%40%

17%

82%

72%

87%

75%

45%

59%

70%

53%

90% 91%95%

91%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Print Knowledge Phonological Awareness Oral Language Vocabulary Mathematics

STU

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VPK ASSESSMENT AP1 & AP2

2014-2015 VPK/BLENDED SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAMProgram-Wide Average Per Measure

Edgewater, Enterprise, Forest Lake, Pathways, Pride, Spirit, Spruce Creek, Starke-Class B

AP1 ESE

AP2 ESE

AP1 GEN ED

AP2 GEN ED

2014-15

Eligible

Students

Not

Enrolled

Proposed Sites

2015-16 School Year

VPK Programs

Proposed

or

Return(R)

# of units

88

Deland

Starke R 1

Starke (blended) R 1

81

Daytona

Holly Hill

Palm Terrace R 1

Turie T. Small R 1

Turie T. Small Proposed 1

Holly Hill Proposed 1

Westside R 1

4

DeLeon McInnis (blended) R 1

3

PiersonPierson R 2

76

Deltona

Friendship Proposed 1

Sunrise Proposed 1

Forest Lake (blended) Proposed 1

16

Orange City

Orange City R 1

Orange City Proposed 1

37

Port Orange

So. Daytona

Atlantic High School Proposed 1

Sugar Mill R 1

Sugar Mill (blended) Proposed 1

13

EdgewaterEdgewater Public Proposed 1

Summer 2015

East Volusia Southeast Volusia Southwest

VolusiaWest Volusia

Holly Hill

Elementary

Read-Pattillo

Elementary

Sunrise

Elementary

Blue Lake

Elementary

Sweetwater

Elementary

Spirit

Elementary

Starke

Elementary

Total VPK Units Proposed

Returning VPK/Title I 8

Returning Employee Blended 6

Returning Community VPK/Blended 1

New VPK/Title I 5

New Community VPK/Blended 3

New Funding Projects 2

Summer VPK - projected units 13

Total 38

Projected Student Enrollment is 570

2015 - 2016 Expansion