1. Middletown School Readiness Shaping our children’s school success!

2. School Readiness what is it? What is the CT School Readiness and Child Care Initiative? Established in 1997 to expand the State’s role in providing a high quality affordable preschool experience for children age 3-5 years old. In FY 2015, over $90 million was appropriated to districts across Connecticut. At this time Middletown receives $2,085,250 for 268 slots for preschool children, of which $100,000 is for the administration/oversight of the grant program. Legislation requires a School Readiness Coordinator and local School Readiness Council, to assess the community’s early childhood and education needs, and work on early childhood and education issues as well as for the administration and oversight of the grant. Who is Eligible? Any 3 or 4 year old child residing in Middletown. 10% of current slots may be used for children who do not reside in Middletown. Weekly fees are based upon a sliding fee scale, using family size and gross annual income.

3. School Readiness Programs Currently there are 5 agencies who receive funding and are serving 268 children on a sliding fee scale; ◦ Bright & Early Learning Center: 50 full day slots. ◦ Snow Preschool: 60 part-day slots. ◦ South Farms Nursery School: 18 full-day slots. ◦ Town & Country Early Learning Center: 56 full-day slots. ◦ YMCA Phelps Ingersoll: 51 full-day slots and 2 school-day slots ◦ YMCA at Macdonough School: 16 school-day slots ◦ YMCA at Bielefield School: 15 school-day slots

4. Program Staffing Qualifications Teacher Qualification Mandates: Current qualifications: Teachers must hold a CDA certificate plus 12 credits in Early Childhood Education(ECE). July 1, 2017, 50% of the Teachers in a program must hold a Bachelor degree in ECE or a related field and the other 50% must hold an Associate degree in ECE or a related field. July 1, 2020, 100% of Teachers in a program must hold a Bachelor degree in ECE or a related field.

5. Quality Standards Requirements for Programs Programs must be accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). http://www.naeyc.org/http://www.naeyc.org/ Programs must meet the Quality Component: ◦ A plan for collaboration with other community programs and services; ◦ Parent involvement, parenting education and outreach; ◦ Referrals for health services; ◦ Nutrition services; ◦ Referrals for family literacy programs;

6. School Readiness Council The Council is composed of the Mayor, Superintendent, parents, grandparents, community health care provider, librarian, Head Start, Early Head Start, Family Resource Center, Middlesex Coalition, Opportunity Knocks, ChildFirst, DCF, Middlesex United Way, Board of Education, Even Start, Family School Partnership, School Principals and the School Readiness Coordinator and: Makes recommendations on issues relating to school readiness, Works toward improving early care and education services as well as support services for children birth to 8 in the community. Sub-committee’s work on many topics such as: childhood obesity, dental health, equitable access to educational experiences, community supports for children and families, mental health supports, early literacy and much more.

7. School Readiness Council Through Quality Enhancement and Discovery Funding supports: Monthly workshops are offered to support community child care program staff with their professional development requirements, On-site supports are offered to programs by the School Readiness Coordinator, and other consultants, Preschool experience data compiled annually: currently shows 89% of children enter Kindergarten in Middletown with a preschool experience, Literacy supports are provided for children in school readiness programs, Week of the Young Child, Kindergarten Tours, Preschool and Kindergarten Teachers visiting each others classrooms, and more.

8. Funding

9. Supports and Challenges for Programs….. School Readiness Supports: These supports work to help programs with behavioral challenges, thus working on reducing suspensions and expulsions. Case Consultation: behavior health supports for programs through Opportunity Knocks funding, monthly meetings to brainstorm strategies for supporting children. ChildFirst: team supported by Safe School/Health Students, for child and family. Other Supports: School Readiness Coordinator and Council. PreK-K meetings, Provider Council meetings, Behavioral Health Meetings, and more. School Readiness Programs Challenges: Advocating to the Governor and Legislators not to cut $999,999 from the rate reimbursement for School Readiness Programs. Meeting staffing qualifications, finding teachers with an Associates and/or Bachelor’s degree is increasingly difficult, as is being able to compensate teachers equitably. Ensuring slots are filled at all times to ensure funding, as it is a grant reimbursement program: slot is not filled they do not get paid. Balancing a budget on limited parent fees and low State reimbursement rates.

10. Successes and Challenges for the School Readiness Office/Council School Readiness Office/Council Successes: 89% of children enter Kindergarten with a preschool experience, Through collaboration with the Hospital, established Opportunity Knocks which helps support children's mental, dental, and physical health along with reducing preschool suspensions and expulsions. Increasing high quality affordable preschool slots available to the community: about 75 slots in 1997 to 268 in 2015. School Readiness Office/Council Challenges: Helping programs meet the staffing qualifications, Ensuring children have access to a high quality programs- transportation is one reason some children are not able to attending preschool, Finding funds to offer sliding fee scale programming for Infants/Toddlers, Leveraging match funds of $25,000 to support the School Readiness office/council in 2016-2017 and moving forward.

11. More Questions? Jessica Stewart School Readiness Coordinator 299 Wadsworth Street Middletown, CT 06457 860-346-7354 stewartj@mpsct.org