1. Learning Together: Launching and Leading an Early Learning Advisory Team
The Journey of a couple of school districts
Angelica Alvarez, PreK-3rd Grade Systems Coach - PSESD
Natalie Hanni, PreK-3rd Grade Systems Coach – PSESD
Mary Waldron, Prenatal-3rd Grade Systems Manager – PSESD

2. Agenda Welcome & Introductions Districts’ ELAT Story
Page Meyer ~ Kent School District
Heather Newman ~ Tukwila School District
Karen Soine, EdD ~ Renton School District
Districts’ ELAT Story
Q&A, Planning Time
5-7 min = Mary
2. Learning Objectives = 5 min
3. Background = 5 min
4. Individual District Presentation 12 min = 36
5. Q & A = 10 Minutes

3. Learning Objectives
Understand the successes and challenges in building an ELAT
Think about and plan how and ELAT might fit in to your district or school

4. Background Roadmap Region 7 districts in South King County
Race to the Top P-3 Project provided the opportunity to develop ELAT Early Learning Advisory Teams across all 7 districts
Support via PSESD staff
Mary
Let audience know to save questions for the end.

5. Kent School District’s Journey
What does your team look like?
Certificated & classified staff, principals, central office staff, city officials, parents, providers, & CBO leaders including KCHA, Children’s Home Society, Kent Youth & Family Services
What is the scope of work of your team?
Advise on early learning initiatives
How often do you meet?
Current – monthly
times

6. Kent School District’s Journey
How did you recruit and retain members?
Personal invitation
Strategic expansion
Relationships, communication, purpose, measurable outcomes
How did you decide on the scope of work?
Initially scope of the work determine by the Race to the Top grant & Superintendent priorities.
Scope of work has evolved over time with the continued development of KSD P-3 system & community needs

7. Kent School District’s Journey
What have been some of the challenges?
Identifying meaningful and timely data in formats that are accessible
Attendance
Team composition
Deciding on priorities & action steps
What have been some of the success?
Broad membership and representation
Advocacy
Credible advisory group

8. Table Time What questions do you have?
What might be some implications for your school or district?

9. Tukwila School District’s Journey
What does your team look like?
PreK/K teachers, City of Tukwila Human Services, KCLS, Family Engagement & Refugee Services, McKinney-Vento liaison, Head Start family support specialist, Play & Learn facilitator, parent, Vroom activation manager, Director of Early Learning
What is the scope of work of your team?
Race to the Top P3 strategies
Early Learning resource-sharing, networking
Birth-to-Kindergarten Center planning

10. Tukwila School District’s Journey
How often do you meet?
Monthly during the school year
How did you recruit and retain members?
In-district recruiting
Word-of-mouth and personal invitations to parents and partners in the community
How did you decide on the scope of work?
Timely topics
Interests of team members

11. Tukwila School District’s Journey
What have been some of the challenges?
Broad representation of stakeholders
Consistent attendance
Deciding on priorities and action steps
What have been some of the successes?
Warmth and connections among the team members
Ease of adding new members once the group was well- established
Challenges:
Broad representation--continuing challenge to recruit and retain parents, teachers in grades 1-3
Consistent attendance--lesson learned was to “over invite” stakeholders and assume that few would attend all meetings
Priorities--sometimes difficult to narrow down to just a few, somewhat challenging to elicit priorities/next steps from team members

12. Table Time What themes do you notice?
What could this look like at your school or district?
What other questions do you have?

13. Renton School District’s Journey
What does your team look like?
16 members representing teachers, administrators, CBOs, PSESD
What is the scope of work of your team?
To guide and make decisions about P-3 efforts and identify and engage both school and community partners as key participants.
How often do you meet?
Monthly, 4:30-6:00pm

14. Renton School District’s Journey
How did you recruit and retain members?
Brainstormed stakeholders - Identified individuals – Solicited membership
Reimbursed childcare expenses for parents
Ran efficient, and solution-focused meetings
How did you decide on the scope of work?
Reviewed past work of committee
Read current research; watched videos
Reviewed data (WAKids, School Improvement Plans, DIBELS, etc)
Prioritized needs – Selected 2 action items

15. Renton School District’s Journey
What have been some of the challenges?
Inconsistent attendance from some members
Clarity of scope of influence
Not connected with Title I
What have been some of the successes?
Building relationships – parents, teachers, administrators, CBOs
Action research project – Home Visits
Advice document provided to all principals on family engagement

16. Q & A

17. Planning Time

18. 2 – 2 – 2 Worksheet
2 Days?
2 Weeks?
2 Months?
If you already have an ELAT:
Anything new that might help you address challenges?
Anything you might incorporate to strengthen current efforts?

19. Please contact us! Page Meyer Karen Soine Heather Newman 253-373-7118
Karen Soine
Heather Newman
Add contact info

20. Please contact us! Angelica Alvarez Natalie Hanni Mary Waldron
Natalie Hanni
Mary Waldron
Add contact info

21. Questions?
5 min