Kenmore – Tonawanda Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) “Setting a foundation for success one building block at a time.”

UPK CBO Teachers and Locations Mary Ennis Edison Sherrie Green Hamilton Kristin Duggan Hamilton Tracy Caruana Holmes Melissa Kirisits Holmes Katie Kuhrt Franklin Jessica Miller Franklin Jessica Clark Roosevelt Dana Metz Jefferson

UPK Program Highlights Purpose To promote high quality, developmentally appropriate programs for four-year-olds in KTT Grant Funded Program First year of implementation September 2001 Expanded from 7 – 9 classes

Current Enrollment ’12-’13 We currently have 287 students in program This is a 1% decrease in student enrollment from year-to-year 29 students are classified with an IEP This is a 1% increase in classified students from year-to-year

UPK Program Highlights Operates 2.5 hours per day, five days a week, for 180 days a year Transportation is not provided One teacher and one aide in each classroom Class size will not exceed 18 students Students must be four-years of age on or before December 1st in the year of enrollment All selected students must be required to meet NYS health and immunization requirements and screened as new entrants

UPK Program Highlights Thematic Curriculum aligned to CCLS that highlights: Social-Emotional Development Cognitive Development Language/Speech Development Fine/Gross Motor Skill Development Self-Help Skills Play

UPK Program Highlights State Reporting: Final Report Finances Enrollment Figures Screening Results Progress Monitoring Results Outcomes Tools Utilized

UPK Team Requirements All teachers are certified in early childhood education All teachers attend District planned professional development All teachers participate in LASW sessions

UPK Assessment DIAL Screening Behavioral Checklist aligned with Characteristics of a Successful Learner on our Progress Report Fox in the Box Letters and Numbers as a benchmark assessment/progress monitoring tool Progress Report in January and June as a progress monitoring tool

UPK ELA Assessment Results 11’-12’ Tool: FOX Letters and Numbers Scoring: Achieved, In Progress, Not Achieved Sub-tests: Oral Language, Phonological Awareness, Alphabet Knowledge, Print Awareness Overall Language and Literacy Performance 41% increase from pre to post assessment at the achieved level

UPK Math Assessment Results 11’-12’ Tool: FOX Letters and Numbers Scoring: Achieved, In Progress, Not Achieved Sub-tests: Numbers and Operations, Geometry, Measurement, Algebra, Data Analysis and Problem Solving Overall Mathematical Performance 46% increase from pre to post assessment at the achieved level

UPK Assessment Results 11’-12’ Social Skills Tool: Behavioral Checklist that is aligned with the Characteristics of a Successful Learner on the Progress Report 14 Characteristics Scoring: Beginning, Developing, Secure Results: On average, a 48% increase scoring “Secure” from pre to post administration

Application Process Section 3602-e of Education Law requires that school districts must establish a process to select eligible children to receive UPK services on a random basis when there are more eligible children than can be served in a given school year. Applications for eligible children will be selected by lottery, if there are more applicants than program spots. Applicants not initially accepted into the program will be placed on a waiting list. Special requests may also be placed on a waiting list.

Application Process Timeline January 2013: Registration Date set by Central Registration March 2013: Program Acceptance Letters Notification that they have secured a spot June 2013: Placement Letters Building, teacher, times, and orientation dates Moved up from August Personnel, State allocation, Final building placement Personnel Issues, State Funding, Classroom Placement

What has changed for UPK? Teachers Collaboration and my role Estimated savings of $135,000 for ’12-’13 Questions?