State Advisory Council Birth to Age 8 Alignment through the Rural Opportunities Initiative March 2012 Background Document

State Advisory Council Background The Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 requires the Governor of each “State” to designate or establish a council to serve as the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care for children from birth to school entry. To be eligible to receive a grant, a state had to prepare and submit an application for a three-year period that addresses select criteria. The State Advisory Council is responsible for leading the development or enhancement of a high-quality, comprehensive system of early childhood development and care that ensures statewide coordination and collaboration among the range of programs and services in the State including: child care, Head Start, IDEA preschool and infants and families programs, pre- kindergarten programs and services. 2

State Advisory Council Membership Board of Early Education and Care Policy and Research Committee Participants (for SAC): Mal Hughes, Chairperson of the Massachusetts Head Start Association Board of Directors (transitioned from former Massachusetts Head Start Association Executive Director, Nancy Topping-Tailby) Kate Roper – MA Department of Public Health Janice Santos - Holyoke Chicopee Springfield Head Start Jay Smith – Parent Representative (Currently Vacant) 3

SAC Overall Funding Three year funding total $1,301,837 EEC is required to match 70% of the grant funding each year. EEC is matching to actual expenditures. As of 10/31/11, EEC has matched $408,701. The match figure will be updated for the next report due for the period ending 3/31/12. Each year, a portion of the match is for personnel, fringe, and other costs. The non-federal share comes from the annual funding the Commonwealth of Massachusetts appropriates to support the IT infrastructure of the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). This system enables EEC to process, track, and analyze data to ensure that quality child care and education is properly administered throughout the Commonwealth. This source of funding is 100% state funded and not claimed for federal purposes. 4

SAC Project Funding 5

SAC: Focus Areas 1. Early Childhood Information System Development and Use 2. Needs Assessment 3. B-8 Community Planning and PreK-3 Partnerships 4. Early Education/Higher Education Workforce Preparation Partnership 5. Policy and Best Practices for Children & Families with Limited English Proficiency and/or Developmental Delays or Multiagency Involvement 6

7 Birth to 8 Alignment: Key Principles and Elements

How the Science Guides Policy Shonkoff, Jack P., MD: Leveraging an Integrated Science of Early Childhood Development to Strengthen the Foundations of Health, Learning, and Behavior. Harvard University Center on the Developing Child. Presentation to the EEC 2010 Early Childhood Information Systems Strategic Planning Institute - Cambridge, MA | November 18,

Mission Statements Support Alignment provide the foundation that supports all children in their development as lifelong learners and contributing members of the community, and supports families in their essential work as parents and caregivers. strengthen the Commonwealth’s public education system so that every student is prepared to succeed in postsecondary education, compete in the global economy, and understand the rights and responsibilities of American citizens, and in so doing, to close all proficiency gaps. Department of Early Education and Care Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 9 Head Start Improve Children’s school readiness outcomes and promote changes that integrate children into a continuum of high-quality early care and education spanning from birth to age eight.

Key Principles in Birth to 8 Alignment 1.Horizontal alignment 2.Vertical alignment 3.Temporal alignment 10

Principle 1: Horizontal Alignment Horizontal alignment Vertical alignment Temporal alignment Horizontal alignment is created by using consistent learning approaches within an age range or grade. Full-day kindergarten 11

Principle 2: Vertical Alignment Horizontal alignment Vertical alignment Temporal alignment Vertical alignment is created by using consistent learning approaches across ages or grades. 1 st grade K Pre-K 2 nd grade 3 rd grade 12

Principle 3: Temporal Alignment Horizontal alignment Vertical alignment Temporal alignment Temporal alignment is created by using consistent learning approaches across a child’s day. 13

What Does Birth to 8 Alignment Look Like? 1 Kauerz, Kristie (2011). Sustaining Your Work: PreK-3 rd Implementation and Evaluation Framework; a presentation to ESE PK-3 grantees. Harvard University: Cambridge, MA. Cross Agency Collaboration on P-3 Instructional Tools and Practices Data and Assessment Instructional Environment (school and Classroom) Engaged Families Administrators & Leadership Quality Transitions and Pathways Teacher Quality & Capacity Mechanisms for Cross-Sector Alignment

SAC Birth to 8 Community Planning Support for community birth through age 8 (B-8) strategic plans, anchored in local data on: Child/family needs, and The quality/effectiveness of Pre-K through Grade 3 aligned systems linking local schools, local providers, and families through grants to communities. Development of tools and assessments which are aligned based on child development including standards, to be used locally between the early education and public schools A state-wide series of meetings between public preschool and Head Start representatives with a focus on full implementation of the required activities of the federally required Head Start –LEA Memorandum of Understanding EEC and ESE hosted a Birth to 8 Leadership Institute Early Educator Fellowship series In response to feedback provided by the SAC suggesting that resources be targeted to rural communities, in October 2011 EEC awarded grants to rural communities to support birth to 8 community planning. 15

SAC Birth to 8 Community Planning: Rural Community Support Grant Two Core Functions of the Grant Rural Community Strategic Planning: One-time grants to selected Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) grantees serving rural communities to support community birth through age 8 (“B-8”) three year strategic plans, anchored in local data. Plans will be based on child and family needs and the quality and effectiveness of B-8 aligned systems linking local schools, local providers and families through grants to communities. Birth to 8 Assessment, Screening, and Curriculum Support and Alignment: One-time grants to non-profit entities serving rural communities in partnership with public school, public school districts and/or a Charter school serving children pre-kindergarten to third grade, to support assessment, screening, and curriculum support and alignment within the communities. 16

SAC Rural Community Support Grant Update 17 Timeframe: October 31, 2011 – February 29, proposals were funded (of 9 received) based on their demonstration of need These applicants cover service areas that align with SAC’s recommended goal to support rural geographic locations with limited resources in Western and Southeastern Massachusetts.

SAC Rural Community Support Grant: Birth to 8 Assessment, Screening and Curriculum Support and Alignment Goals The SAC Rural Community Support Grant: Birth to 8 Assessment, Screening, and Curriculum Support and Alignment focus area supports private non-profit early education and care providers and public school partnerships to establish assessment, screening and curriculum alignment birth to 8 in rural communities. The goals for this component of the grant are to: facilitate dialogue among local entities (i.e., public schools and early education and care programs) to support the alignment and a shared understanding of curriculum, assessment and screening practices and trainings in the communities served, make clear, specific recommendations on assessment and screening tools and practices that will support alignment; and develop a plan for coordinated assessment, screening and curriculum alignment that will best support children and families in the communities served across the mixed delivery system. 18

Birth to 8 Assessment, Screening, Curriculum Support and Alignment Grant Activities 19 Grant GoalsCape Cod Lower Pioneer Valley Nantucket Facilitate dialogue among local entities to support a shared understanding of aligned curriculum, assessment and screening practices and trainings in the communities served Invited educators to participate in study on assessment tool use (20 participated) DA, TQC Disseminated report of survey findings through community open house EF Held organizational meeting with project partners Administered survey on use of screenings to community based and public school programs DA, TQC Held 5 community based meetings on survey results (strengths, needs, barriers, benefits, etc) DA, EF Will use social media to share resources with the community EF Held 3 roundtables: parent education, educator challenges, professional development, and the screening process. DA, EF, TP, TQC Held presentations on importance of alignment MCA, TP Created a Facebook page to keep community current on events/resources EF Make clear, specific recommendations on assessment and screening tools and practices that will support alignment Survey findings report included areas of consistency and areas needing improvement DA, MCA, TQC Report of trends, and recommendations for next steps is in process DA, MCA Develop plan for coordinated assessment, screening and curriculum alignment to support children/families in the community’s mixed delivery system Obtained feedback at community open house to use in developing plan DA, EF Will participate in Early Educators Fellowship Institute on birth to 8 local planning efforts across the mixed delivery system MCA, TP, TQC

Next Steps EEC Community and Family Engagement Specialist visits to grantees: Cape Cod -- March 20 th Lower Pioneer Valley – March 20 th Grantees must report on the following by March 16, 2012: Plans for coordinated assessment practices on: children’s growth and development; literacy development; and support for dual language learners. Community-level recommendations for assessment and screening tools to be used or aligned among community partners. Release a 2 nd round of competitive funding in FY12 ($95K) to support the following communities: Gateway Cities (24 cities), Federal Home Visiting grantees (17 communities), and Level 4 schools (40 schools in 10 districts) 20