ROCHESTER’S EARLY LEARNING JOURNEY

April 2014

Background Information

• Rochester Primary School • Birth-Pre (46)• K-2nd (498)

• 160-190 K students per year

• 7-9 kindergarten classes a year

• Poverty level @ RPS 61%

• Head Start (54) w/ 71 on the waiting list

• Community Preschools (2)

RSD Early Learning History

2000Free All Day K

for At-Risk

2004All Day K

Tuition Option

2007Free All Day K

for All

2010 Right from the

Start

2010Sound to Harbor

Early Literacy Grant

2013-14State Funded

All Day K

2013-14WA Kids Grant

Community ConnectionsSound to Harbor Early Literacy Grant

• The purpose of the project was to align early literacy instruction (pre-K to grade 3) through increasing educator’s use of best practices in early literacy while building relationships among those educators.

• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grant

• ESD 113 coach & coordination

• David Matteson - national early literacy expert

• 3 years of collaborative professional development

• Head Start, community preschools & district collaboration

WaKIDS Competitive Grant

• Quarterly cycle of pre-visit meeting, preschool visit and collaboration, post-visit debrief meeting.

• Goals:• Develop mutually respected relationships between K and preschool

teachers• Share data and WaKIDS results• Identify developmental milestones and strategies to better able

students to reach their full potential• K teachers would gain a better understanding of early learners and the

challenges pre-school teachers face in preparing students to meet K entry standards

Community ConnectionsRight from the Start - Rochester• A project of the United Way of Thurston County’s Success By 6 initiative

• Goal: To increase the number of children who start school ready to succeed by supporting their parents as first teachers.

• Supports parents as first teachers

• A part-time program coordinator works from a tiny office at RPS to provide collaboration and outreach

What Does Right from the Start Offer?

Early connection to school and staff

Information and referrals

Parents As Teachers Group

Ready! for Kindergarten classes for parents 3 x year

Community Cafes

Story Time

Family Events

Hands On Children's Museum Visits

Kindergarten Readiness Calendar

First Teacher Newsletter

2014-2015 WaKIDS Support

How Do We Measure Success?

Outputs Outcomes

+356 families, Parent’s increased learning scores 459 kids under age 5

Contacts with parents Parents applying learned skills

1,100 referrals Teacher Perception Survey

Over 200 classes and events WaKids Scores comparisons

Increased participation at K Roundups

WaKIDS Assessment (Pilot 2012-2013)

Social-Emotional

Physical

Language

Cogitive

Literacy

Math

0.0%

50.0%

100.0%

Yelm

Rochester

Rainier

Olympia

North Thurston

1996-97

WASL

1997-98

WASL

1998-99

WASL

1999-00

WASL

2000-01

WASL

2001-02

WASL

2002-03

WASL

2003-04

WASL

2004-05

WASL

2005-06

WASL

2006-07

WASL

2007-08

WASL

2008-09

WASL

2009-10

MSP

2010-11

MSP

2011-12

MSP

2012-13

MSP

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

100.00%

Griffin

Olympia

Tumwater

North Thurston

Yelm

State

Tenino

Rainier

Rochester

4th Grade Reading Assessment (1997-2013)

% Free/Reduce

d Price Lunches

17.2%

28.7%

32.8%

42.5%

45.9%

46.1%

48.2%

53.2%

54.5%

The Superintendent’s Role• Hire people who are passionate

about early learning.

• Ensure there is on-going discussion with the Board regarding the importance and financial value of early learning.

• Be the executive sponsor of early learning initiatives.

• Be open to small opportunities. Then merge multiple small initiatives into a coordinated effort.

• Remind everyone that the purpose of an investment is the long-term benefit.

QUESTIONS