Susan Main Executive Director Early Learning Coalition of Duval EARLY LEARNING COALITION OF DUVAL Helping parents choose, preparing children to learn Presentation to Jacksonville Journey Education Subcommittee Jan. 14, 2008

VISION STATEMENT All Jacksonville Early Learning Programs will provide high quality care and early learning services that result in demonstrated positive school readiness outcomes for all children. Vision / Mission of Early Learning Coalition of Duval MISSION STATEMENT The Early Learning Coalition of Duval exists to create a coordinated and integrated system for school readiness services to better prepare children for entry into kindergarten, with an emphasis on literacy skills for children who may be at risk for future school failure.

TOTAL ELC OF DUVAL BUDGET (SR + VPK): $52 MILLION  SCHOOL READINESS (SR) BUDGET: $31 MILLION (EST ENROLLMENT OF 7,800 CHILDREN) Approx. 97% of the SR funding comes from federal sources; 81% allocated to slots; 19% to non-slots  VPK BUDGET (ESTD ENROLLMENT OF 7,800 CHILDREN): $21 MILLION 100% of VPK funding comes from State’s general revenue; 95% is allocated to provider payments; 5% to VPK administration EARLY LEARNING COALITION OF DUVAL BUDGET AND FUNDING SOURCES FUNDING SOURCES SCHOOL READINESS FUNDING: Federal – Child Care Development Block Grant; TANF; Social Services Block Grant Other: United Way; CCEP; VPK FUNDING: 100% funded by State of Florida’s General Revenue

WHAT DO CRIME AND QUALITY EARLY LEARNING HAVE TO DO WITH ONE ANOTHER? When children don’t get the right start in life, we are all at risk. Children from low income families are most at risk of being involved in crimes if they do not have access to high quality programs. Economic benefits from intensive, high-quality programs to taxpayers and participants combined far exceed the cost of high-quality programs

SHORT TERM & LONG TERM EFFECTS OF QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION Many short term studies with children from low-income families find: Increased Achievement Test Scores Decreased Grade Retention Decreased Special Education Long term studies also find: Increased High School Graduation Decreased Crime & Delinquency

Chicago-Child Parent Centers (CPC) – a half-day program on a large scale in the Chicago public schools The Carolina Abecedarian educational child care– a full-day year-round program in Chapel Hill, NC High/Scope Perry Preschool– a half-day program on a small scale in Ypsilanti, MI public schools The High Scope / Perry Preschool study which was initiated in the early 1960s and tracked over the last 40 years, has been considered as the landmark study establishing the human and financial value of quality preschool education. THREE IMPORTANT LONGITUDINAL STUDIES

PERRY PRESCHOOL – LONGITUDINAL STUDY RESULTS PRESCHOOL GROUP vs NON-PRESCHOOL GROUP SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES THROUGH AGE 27 PRESCHOOL GROUPNON-PRESCHOOL GROUP 7% were arrested 5 or more times 7% were arrested for drug related offenses 71% of those in the program group graduated from regular or adult high schools or received GED certification 35% were arrested 5 or more times 25% were arrested for drug related offenses Only 54%graduated from regular or adult high schools or received GED certification

PERRY PRESCHOOL CRIME EFFECTS AT AGE 40

DUVAL - KINDERGARTEN READINESS RATES CHILDREN ENTERING KINDERGARTEN IN AND Three different instruments used to test readiness; ECHOS – Early Childhood Observation System DIBELS – Letter Naming Fluency DIBELS – Initial Sound Fluency Tests administered within the first 30 days of kindergarten TESTFALL 2006FALL 2007 ECHOS 85% of the children demonstrated readiness 84% of the children demonstrated readiness DIBELS – LETTER NAMING FLUENCY 76% of the children were above average / low risk 78% of the children were above average / low risk DIBELS – INITIAL SOUND FLUENCY 64% of the children were above average / low risk 65% of the children were above average / low risk

PCER (Preschool Curriculum Evaluation Research) Study TERA-3 (Test of Early Reading Ability) Study conducted by UNF – Florida Institute of Education, funded by US Dept of Education Test administered to children in 3 diverse locations in Florida at the beginning of Pre-K, end of Pre-K, and end of Kindergarten Looking at the data Sharp increase in the Alphabet subtest (knowledge of the alphabet) at the end of Kindergarten Steady increase in the Conventions of Print subtest (what does print represent) at the end of Kindergarten Sharp decrease in the Meaning subtest (construction of meaning from print) at the end of kindergarten While this achievement pattern is statewide, Duval County Public Schools is working with FIE to address this issue, with special attention to Meaning.

ELC of Duval can help Jacksonville Journey by providing quality early learning services. Quality Early Learning REDUCES Crime Rates Teenage Pregnancy Welfare Dependency Job Training Costs Special Education Costs Grade Repetition Quality Early Learning INCREASES Enhanced Language skills Success in Schools Graduation Rates Workforce Readiness Job Productivity Community Engagement

COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INITIATIVES EARLY LEARNING COALITION OF DUVAL  Jacksonville Children’s Commission – Mayor’s JELP  Duval County Health Department  Duval County Public Schools  Episcopal Children’s Services  Florida Community College at Jacksonville  Nemours Children’s Clinic  Community Foundation  Jacksonville Public Library  Jacksonville Urban League Head Start  United Way of Northeast Florida  UNF and the Florida Institute of Education  WJCT Public Television

Curry School of Education, University of Virginia Page #13 “Investment in early childhood development yields an extraordinary return, far exceeding the return on most investments, private or public……” Art Rolnick and Rob Grunewald THANK YOU!