Planning for Pre-Kindergarten: A Toolkit for School Boards NSBA Annual Conference San Diego, CA April 6, 2009

Agenda Overview of Pre-K Initiative Jim Edwards, KS Vision Janice Esau, TX Pre-K Partnerships Sally Howell, AL Strategy Kerri Schelling, KY Strategy Chrisanne Gayl, Federal Funding and Resources Q&A

Thinking P-12: Engaging school boards in support of pre-k A multi-year partnership between NSBA’s Center for Public Education and state school board associations with funding from the Pew Charitable Trusts Part 1, : Kansas, Ohio, and Texas Part 2, : Alabama and Kentucky plus ongoing activities in Kansas and Texas.

Goals Making pre-kindergarten a public priority – Increasing awareness of the short- and long-term benefits of pre-k Adding the school board voice to the pre-k discussion – Collaborating with other early education advocates – Taking a leadership role – school boards as value-added

Pre-K bridges child care and school child care kindergarten pre-K 1st grade 2 nd grade

The Pre-K Tool Kit Establish a vision Review the research Engage the community Take inventory Design a program Ensure quality Secure funding Be an advocate From vision to reality

Establishing a Vision Jim Edwards Associate Executive Director, Board Development, Kansas Association of School Boards

Establishing YOUR Vision for Pre-K When working in your district to help create, or enhance an existing quality Pre-K program, you must remember that … 1. Internally … “One Size Does Not Fit All 2. Globally … What has worked well in one community won’t always work well in others

Establishing YOUR Vision High-quality pre-k should be … Fun – “can I go to pre-K?” Often in diverse settings Welcoming to parents too Absolutely voluntary Essential but not sufficient Concerned with children’s social, emotional, and academic development For all, plus more for high-needs children

Establishing YOUR Vision High-quality pre-k should NOT be… High pressure Mandatory Low-quality/concerned only with access Academic only One size fits all Only in schools Closed to parents A silver bullet

Establishing YOUR Vision What did this mean in Kansas? VISION: All children in Kansas enter school prepared to succeed. 1.Spotlight a core group of local school districts who have successful programs. 2.Build key partnerships with statewide education organizations and parents. 3. Educate policy makers and their constituents on the importance of pre-k.

Establishing YOUR Vision 1.Spotlight a core group of local school districts who have successful pre-k programs. – Articles stressing diversity of programs – Development of Kansas resource guide – Use core group as advocacy leaders 2.Build key partnerships with statewide education organizations and parents.

Establishing YOUR Vision – Continue our efforts in the coalition of early childhood advocates – Provide information to others outside of this coalition – Continue to provide educational programs 3.Educate policy makers and their constituents on the importance of pre-k. – Ensure that policymakers understand the crucial impact early childhood can have – Partner with other advocacy groups

Pre-Kindergarten Partnerships: Collaborating for Young Texans Janice Esau Consultant, Texas Association of School Boards

Pre-K Eligibility in Texas Public Schools Limited English Language Learners Educationally Disadvantaged (eligible for free and reduced lunch program) Homeless The child of a member of the armed forces of the United States, including the state military forces or a reserve component of the armed forces, who was injured or killed during active duty. Includes uniformed service members Missing in Action (MIA) Children in the Foster Care System

Who Comes to Play in Texas? Hispanic: 126,702 (65.35%) African American: 30,500 (15.73%) White: 30,036 (15.49%) Asian: 6,111 (3.15%) Native American: 520 (.27%) Breakdown of children enrolled in Texas public school pre-k programs by ethnicity Copyright 2009, Texas Early Care and Education Coalition

Collaboration is Key in Texas Texas Early Childhood Education Collaboration (TECEC) – Mission is to build a system of quality early care and education that prepares children in Texas for success in their education and life – Created in 2003 – Diverse membership at the local, state, and national levels – 4000 Community Partners – 275 Members Copyright 2009, Texas Early Care and Education Coalition

Texas Pre-K Delivery System Challenges PUBLIC SCHOOL PRE-K No class size limits Limited eligibility Most programs are only half day Not all classrooms are early childhood certified CHILD CARE Varying levels of quality Varying education levels of teachers Waiting lists Cost HEAD START Only serves 42% of those Eligible for Head Start and 2% of those eligible for Early Head Start Copyright 2009, Texas Early Care and Education Coalition

Building Partnerships Possible ISD Role: Provide financial support Provide Certified Teacher Share training and professional development Give resources/materials/ supplies/equipment Possible Partner Role: Provide space Provide “wrap around care” Advertise to community Allow access to children’s developmental screenings Share resources

SB81st Legislative Session21/HB130 cont. 81st Legislative Session SB21 - Judith Zaffirini HB130 - Diane Patrick Authorizes the operation of half and/or full day prekindergarten program Establishes criteria for class sizes, staffing, and curriculum Authorizes the formation of partnerships between school districts and community providers to provide a percentage of the services offered by the expanded pre K program and establishes exceptions to the community partnerships

81st Legislative Session SB21 – SS HB130 – Diane Patrick SB21/HB130 cont… Defines criteria for eligibility of community partners Requires a written contractual agreement between the school district and community providers Delineates criteria for minimum funding for community providers Establishes annual reporting standards Establishes a funded requirement for an annual evaluation of the enhanced pre K program.

Alabama Association of School Boards Strategy Sally Howell, J.D. AASB Executive Director

AASB Pre-K Strategy: Spotlight Pre-K and Disseminate Data MESSAGE TO SCHOOL BOARDS: A Quality Pre-kindergarten Education is a fundamental part of school readiness.

AASB Pre-K Strategy: Spotlight Pre-K and Disseminate Data MESSAGE TO SCHOOL BOARDS: A Quality Pre-kindergarten Education is a fundamental part of school readiness.

AASB Pre-K Strategy: Make the Case for Pre-K MESSAGE TO SCHOOL BOARDS: Education funding is limited, but we must recognize the proven link between quality pre-kindergarten and narrowing achievement gaps.

AASB Pre-K Strategy: Build effective partnerships, involve stakeholders MESSAGE TO SCHOOL BOARDS: Collaborative partnerships between K-12, child advocates and other stakeholders in your community could ultimately increase the number of children served by high-quality pre-K programs.

AASB Strategy: Mobilize boards, influence policy & legislative action AASB & THE NEW PRE-K COALITION: The new Pre-K Coalition inspired by the Pew/Center grant will host a forum soon after the state Pre-K conference in April. School board members, legislators, child advocates and child care and pre-K professionals are invited.

AASB Pre-K Strategy: “ Connect the Dots ” Between Pre-K & K-12 Initiatives Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative Pre-K Pilot Program Southern Education Foundation: Connects high-quality pre-K to lower dropout rates Unique student identification numbers for pre-K "First Class Pre-K and AMSTI are both national models. This partnership will provide Alabama's four-year-olds with the strongest math and science foundation in the nation." -- Gov. Bob Riley

Kentucky School Boards Association: Pre-K Strategy Kerri Shelling Director, Board Team Development

KSBA Pre-K Strategy Member Relations/Communications – Kentucky School Advocate – Website – Identification of existing resources

KSBA Pre-K Strategy Board Team Development – Involvement with existing pre-k efforts – Scripted Conversations – Board Training – Conferences – Regional Meetings

KSBA Pre-K Strategy Governmental Relations – KSBA representation on statewide P-16 Council – Meetings with KY First Lady – Development of advocacy toolkit * Continue the focus on full funding of all-day Kindergarten

Federal Funding & Resources Chrisanne Gayl Education Consultant, NSBA

Federal Funding Title I of the ESEA – Part A funds may be used for preschool services for at-risk children within Title I-funded schools and districts Head Start – districts are eligible grantees of this $6 billion dollar program Individuals with Disabilities Education Act – Part B, Sec 619 funds are set aside for 3 and 4 year olds

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act $13 billion in additional Title I grants to states $400 million in new IDEA preschool grants $1 billion for Head Start and $1.1 billion for Early Head Start $48.6 billion in State Fiscal Stabilization Fund - for essential education reforms to benefit students from early learning to postsecondary

What Does This Mean? StateTitle IIDEA, Preschool State Fiscal Stabilization* Alabama$81.5 million$3 million$488.5 million California$562.5 million$20.5 million$4 billion Illinois$210. 1$9.2 million$1.4 billion *Based on initial estimates by the U.S. Dept of Education

NSBA Economic Stimulus Website NSBA Pre-k Legislative Committee Website Resources

Pre-K Newsletter

Pre-K Collaboration Report Features interviews with P-12 administrators throughout the country Benefits and Challenges of working with community partners in delivery of pre-k State and local models Lessons Learned Recommendations to Policymakers

Pre-K tool kit webinar April 28 at 1 pm ET Downloadable tool kits will be online one week before

QUESTIONS?

THANK YOU Patte Barth, Jim Edwards, Janice Esau, Sally Howell, Kerri Schelling, Chrisanne Gayl,