Transition from early care to formal schooling Tom Corbett, Governor; Ronald Tomalis, Secretary of Education; Gary Alexander, Secretary of Public Welfare Management of Transition Practices 1 This section emphasizes the necessary systematic and structural components for the implementation of best transition practices.

Transition from early care to formal schooling Tom Corbett, Governor; Ronald Tomalis, Secretary of Education; Gary Alexander, Secretary of Public Welfare Understand the supports needed to facilitate effective transitions 2.Evaluate current management of transition practices 3.Identify a means to plan and implement continual quality improvement Management of Transition Practices OBJECTIVES 2

Transition from early care to formal schooling Tom Corbett, Governor; Ronald Tomalis, Secretary of Education; Gary Alexander, Secretary of Public Welfare Best Practice Rubric Management of Transition Practices Best Practice EmergingBest Practice ProgressingBest Practice Achieved Audience Transition practices are in place and are implemented for limited groups of children (i.e. those children with IEPs, children identified “at risk”) In addition to transition practices offered to limited groups of children, some transition practices are offered to ALL children. All available transition practices are offered to ALL children. Personnel Issues related to transition are handled by the guidance counselor or other district personnel as an add-on to position responsibilities. Issues related to transition are handled by one, identified person as a dedicated portion of their job responsibilities. There is a designated Transition Coordinator at the district level and one team leader within each feeder school. Most, but not all, of individual schools serving Kindergartners within the district participate in transition activities. All schools serving Kindergarteners within the district participate in transition activities. Some of these activities are coordinated events across the district. In addition to the previous indicator, school district personnel also participate in and/or promote county-wide and/or state-wide transition initiatives. Teachers volunteer time to engage in transition practices that extend beyond their contractual obligations. Incentives are provided for teachers to engage in transition practices that extend beyond their contractual obligations. Transition practices are incorporated into and are compensated as part of teachers’ contractual obligations. Transition Plan A written Transition Plan is present.A written Transition Plan is current, is implemented, and is reviewed and updated periodically. A written Transition Plan is current, is implemented and is reviewed and updated on an annual basis. Plan effectiveness is evaluated annually. 23

Transition from early care to formal schooling Tom Corbett, Governor; Ronald Tomalis, Secretary of Education; Gary Alexander, Secretary of Public Welfare Self- Evaluation of the Rubric “Emerging”Means that effective practice is at the beginning stages. “Progressing” Means that the program is moving toward the most effective practice but has not yet achieved it. “Achieved” Means the program has met the most effective practice which would result in optimal outcomes for children and families. 4

Transition from early care to formal schooling Tom Corbett, Governor; Ronald Tomalis, Secretary of Education; Gary Alexander, Secretary of Public Welfare According to the Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning, University of Virginia, 48% of children have some difficulty transitioning into to formal school. Audience 5

Transition from early care to formal schooling Tom Corbett, Governor; Ronald Tomalis, Secretary of Education; Gary Alexander, Secretary of Public Welfare 6

Transition from early care to formal schooling Tom Corbett, Governor; Ronald Tomalis, Secretary of Education; Gary Alexander, Secretary of Public Welfare My current practice is that I transition all children by sending a letter home to the parents to announce registration dates and to invite parents to this. We like to place this on the school website and send to all childcare centers in our area. Also we send home to all children who have an IEP in place. 7

Transition from early care to formal schooling Tom Corbett, Governor; Ronald Tomalis, Secretary of Education; Gary Alexander, Secretary of Public Welfare 8

Transition from early care to formal schooling Tom Corbett, Governor; Ronald Tomalis, Secretary of Education; Gary Alexander, Secretary of Public Welfare My current practice is that I transition all children by sending a letter home to the parents to announce registration dates and to invite parents to this. We like to place this on the school website and send to all childcare centers in our area. Also we send home to all children who have an IEP in place. 9 All parents get the letter in the mail or in child book bag Although I send letters, I do not know if the families actually look at them. Maybe I can follow up with families to ensure that they receive the materials.

Transition from early care to formal schooling Tom Corbett, Governor; Ronald Tomalis, Secretary of Education; Gary Alexander, Secretary of Public Welfare Research shows that… Extra work is not supported by salary (33%). Funds not available to support practices (27%). OCDEL Research 2010 Transition Survey Personnel 10

Transition from early care to formal schooling Tom Corbett, Governor; Ronald Tomalis, Secretary of Education; Gary Alexander, Secretary of Public Welfare

Transition from early care to formal schooling Tom Corbett, Governor; Ronald Tomalis, Secretary of Education; Gary Alexander, Secretary of Public Welfare

Transition from early care to formal schooling Tom Corbett, Governor; Ronald Tomalis, Secretary of Education; Gary Alexander, Secretary of Public Welfare Personnel Issues related to transition are handled by the guidance counselor or other district personnel as an add-on to position responsibilities. Issues related to transition are handled by one, identified person as a dedicated portion of their job responsibilities. There is a designated Transition Coordinator at the district level and one team leader within each feeder school. Most, but not all, of individual elementary schools within the district participate in transition activities. All elementary schools within the district participate in transition activities. Some of these activities are coordinated events across the district. In addition to the previous indicator, school district personnel also participate in and/or promote county-wide and/or state-wide transition initiatives. Teachers volunteer time to engage in transition practices that extend beyond their contractual obligations. Incentives are provided for teachers to engage in transition practices that extend beyond their contractual obligations. Transition practices are incorporated into and are compensated as part of teachers’ contractual obligations. Current Practice: MY teachers in Elementary schools help to participate in county wide transition practices. The lead teacher in each grade is responsible for making connections with the other grade lead teachers. Also Kindergarten and 1 st grade teachers make connections with the local ECE programs. All of our work with transition is part of our regular duties. What’s working: We are able to make connections with many early learning programs and contribute to our county wide team. What can be improved? Although all the teachers do something for transition, we all kind of do our own thing. There really isn’t any intentional coordination going on. Ideas for next steps: Assign a dedicated person to organize our efforts (discuss our individual efforts at monthly staff meetings and try to coordinate efforts).

Transition from early care to formal schooling Tom Corbett, Governor; Ronald Tomalis, Secretary of Education; Gary Alexander, Secretary of Public Welfare –Dwight Eisenhower, General and President ( ) 14

Transition from early care to formal schooling Tom Corbett, Governor; Ronald Tomalis, Secretary of Education; Gary Alexander, Secretary of Public Welfare Transition Plan A written Transition Plan is present. A written Transition Plan is current, is implemented, and is reviewed and updated periodically. A written Transition Plan is current, is implemented and is reviewed and updated on an annual basis. Plan effectiveness is evaluated annually. Current Practice: What’s working: What can be improved? Ideas for next steps: 15

Transition from early care to formal schooling Tom Corbett, Governor; Ronald Tomalis, Secretary of Education; Gary Alexander, Secretary of Public Welfare Data-driven decision making is about: 1.Collecting appropriate data 2.Analyzing that data in a meaningful fashion 3.Getting the data into the hands of the people who need it 4.Using the data to increase efficiencies and improve transition efforts 5.Communicating data-driven decisions to key stakeholders Data Collection 16

Transition from early care to formal schooling Tom Corbett, Governor; Ronald Tomalis, Secretary of Education; Gary Alexander, Secretary of Public Welfare PercentageBarrier 56%Class lists are generated too late 47%Summer work is not supported by salary 43%No transition plan is available 37%Requires too much time to plan and conduct transition activities 33%Dangerous to visit homes 32%Parents don’t bring the child to registration / open house 27%Couldn’t reach the parents 25%Parents were not interested What teachers see as the barriers to helping with transitions: 17

Transition from early care to formal schooling Tom Corbett, Governor; Ronald Tomalis, Secretary of Education; Gary Alexander, Secretary of Public Welfare Resource Use 18

Transition from early care to formal schooling Tom Corbett, Governor; Ronald Tomalis, Secretary of Education; Gary Alexander, Secretary of Public Welfare Read descriptions for each indicator. 2. Complete your current practice on worksheet. 3. Score on action plan. 4. Complete “what’s working”, “what can be improved” and “ideas for next steps” on worksheet. 19

Transition from early care to formal schooling Tom Corbett, Governor; Ronald Tomalis, Secretary of Education; Gary Alexander, Secretary of Public Welfare Prioritizing

Transition from early care to formal schooling Tom Corbett, Governor; Ronald Tomalis, Secretary of Education; Gary Alexander, Secretary of Public Welfare Lets take a Break! 21 REFRESH YOUR MIND STRETCH YOUR BODY