Creating Successful Early Learning and All-Day Kindergarten Programs. Minnesota Department of Education Office of Early Learning

Transcription

1 Creating Successful Early Learning and All-Day Kindergarten Programs Minnesota Department of Education Office of Early Learning

2 BETTER SCHOOLS FOR A BETTER M I NNESOTA 1. Funding Education for the Future Invest in Early Childhood and All-Day Kindergarten Invest in strategies that close the achievement gap & target resources to the classroom 2. Better Early Childhood Education Target All-Day Kindergarten Expand existing K-12 system into a comprehensive pre-k-12 system Implement clearly defined school readiness standards 3. Raise the Bar Close the Gap Set accountability targets to close achievement gaps 4. Reading Well by 3 rd Grade Launch Statewide Literacy Campaign Set school accountability targets to ensure all students are reading well by Grade 3 Adopt Pre-K-3 Literacy Standards education.state.mn.us

3 BETTER SCHOOLS FOR A BETTER M I NNESOTA 5. Support Teaching for Better Schools Create alternative pathways to teacher licensure that maintain quality Establish a statewide teacher performance evaluation and development system and create support networks Support early childhood teacher observation and development 6. Better Testing for Better Results Develop assessments for learning that measure growth Establish a Test Reduction Task Force Examine new accountability measures based on growth that fairly assess and report student and school progress 7. A Department of Education that Provides Educational Leadership & Support Reposition Minnesota Department of Education to support teachers, schools and districts Reauthorize Statewide Early Childhood Advisory Council and Charge Commissioner of Education with leadership of early childhood initiatives education.state.mn.us

4 The Office of Early Learning Cross agency leadership and management structure to align, coordinate and improve the statewide system across agencies for birth to eight year olds and their families. education.state.mn.us

5 Essential Birth Age 8 Early Learning Priorities 8yrs 5yrs Grades 1-3: Foundation for Lifelong Learning (Fight Fadeout) Full- day K: Universal Transition Year PreK: Foundation for K- 12 Education 0yrs Birth to 3: Crucial Brain Development

6 PreK-3 Feedback Loops: Intentional Alignment of Curriculum, Assessments, & Instruction 2 nd Grade Data 3 rd Grade Data 1 st Grade Data 2 nd Grade Data Kindergarten Data 1 st Grade Data Preschool Data Kindergarten Data Making a Difference: 10 Essential Steps To Building a PreK-3 System of Support Linda Sullivan-Dudzic, Donna K. Gearns, Kelli Leavell

7 Layering and Maximizing Resources State Resources General Education Fund Literacy Incentive Aid State Early Learning Scholarships Q- comp Professional Development ECFE School Readiness Head Start Literacy Incentive Aid Federal Resources Race to the Top / Early Learning Challenge PreK Title I Incentive Rtt/ELC Early Learning Scholarships Title I Part A Head Start Title II, Part A Title II, Part A School Improvement Grants (SIG) Migrant Education Program Special Ed. Part C Special Ed. Part B 619 Special Ed. Coordinated Early Intervening Service Funds Special Ed. Funds for State Personnel Development Grant

8 Uses of General Education Revenue Allows a district to use up to 10% of its compensatory revenue for programs designed to prepare children for entry into school. This is in addition to the 5% that districts currently have flexibility with (FY 14). Allows a district to use revenue generated for all-day kindergarten to meet the needs of 3 and 4 year olds in the district (FY 15). Learning and Development Revenue Set-aside. Districts are encouraged to use their Literacy Incentive Aid as well to support early learning efforts. Districts are now able to use of their Integration Funding as well to support early learning. education.state.mn.us 8

9 Goals: State Early Learning Scholarships Provide children with high needs with access to a high-quality early learning setting of their choice. Build upon lessons learned from previous scholarship pilots. Establish infrastructure for growing and sustaining a comprehensive early learning system in Minnesota. education.state.mn.us 9

10 Proposed Distribution Plan Distributed regionally, reaching all Economic Development Regions. A balanced & fair distribution based on kindergarten free and reduced lunch for the Metro (50.1%) and Greater Minnesota (49.9%) Equaling approximately 4057 scholarships annually, reaching approximately nine percent (9%) of children in need. education.state.mn.us 10

11 13 Economic Development Regions education.state.mn.us 11

12 Proposed Distribution Plan Determining factors: Percentage poverty based on kindergarten free and reduced-price lunch Existence of a Priority School in the community Existence of current state-funded Early Learning Scholarships (10 communities, 460 scholarships) Cities of the First Class (Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Duluth) education.state.mn.us 12

13 Proposed Distribution Plan Eligible children will be able to access Early Learning Scholarships in one of two ways: Pathway I: Awarded to eligible children through a regional Scholarship Administrator, quality rating**: } } Up to $5,000 per year (3 & 4 star-rated providers) Up to $4,000 per year (1 & 2 star-rated providers) **Providers with a signed participation agreement may also receive up to $3,000 per year per child. Pathway II: Early Learning Scholarships awarded to children through a designated four-star Parent Aware rated early learning setting of their choice. education.state.mn.us 13

14 Use of Scholarships Scholarships are administered locally, and are for a 12-month period. Funds can be used to serve additional children, services, support continuity of services and cover parent co-pays and fees, including transportation. Layering of funds with other existing resources is encouraged to increase access & services for children with high needs. education.state.mn.us 14

15 Administration of Scholarships Scholarships will be locally administered in each region. The scholarship office in each region will work with families to complete the application and payment process. A four-star Parent Aware rated program who has scholarship eligible children enrolled in or on a waiting list beginning in July, August or September may notify the commissioner by completing an application process administered by MDE. Scholarships are awarded for a 12-month period. A child may not be awarded more than one scholarship in a 12- month period. A child receiving a scholarship must complete developmental screening within 90 days of first attending an eligible program. education.state.mn.us 15

16 Timeline Pathway I Application guidelines for Regional Administrators posted July 22 and are due August 13 th. Applications reviewed by mid- late August. Grants to administrators approved by end of August. Scholarship awards to families starting September Pathway II Application and Guidance posted on July 25 th and are due to MDE by August 23 rd. Notification letters to eligible 4- Star rated programs mailed on July 30 th. Applications reviewed by the end of August and programs notified by early September. Scholarship awards to families starting September education.state.mn.us 16

17 Full-day K: New Legislation To qualify for the 1.0 kindergarten weight: A pupil must be enrolled in a free, all- day program that is available to all kindergarten students school, and the annual calendar for the kindergarten program must include at least 850 hours of instruction. For purposes of calculating extended time revenue: An all- day kindergarten pupil must first receive at least 850 hours of instruction during the year before generating extended time pupil units. education.state.mn.us 17

18 Full-day K: New Legislation Pupil Accounting Changes (FY 14) Requires board- adopted policies for early admission to kindergarten be based on a comprehensive evaluation to determine the and progress to first grade in subsequent year. Gifted and Talented Students Programs Requires districts to adopt procedures for early admission to kindergarten or first grade for gifted and talented learning. education.state.mn.us 18

19 Full-day K: New Legislation Requires a school board that has adopted a policy to allow a child under the age of five to enroll in kindergarten to establish a comprehensive evaluation cognitive, social, and emotional development. Requires parents and the commissioner to have policy. education.state.mn.us 19

20 Full-day Kindergarten MDE Facilities Task Force All- Day Kindergarten Technical Assistance Guidance Intentional transition plans from PreK to Kindergarten Best practice for curriculum, instruction and assessment Comprehensive Evaluation for Early Entrance Scheduling Learning Environments Establishing partnerships with Community early learning providers Identifying and sharing exemplary full- day kindergarten programs education.state.mn.us 20

21 Grades 1- Fighting the Fadeout Effect Policies & practices focus on ensuring stable pathway of high- quality learning opportunities for every child PreK- 3 rd Grade. Minnesota PreK- 3 rd Grade Systems for Success (Fall, 2013). education.state.mn.us 21

22 Kristie Kauerz & Julia Coffman, 2012

23 Contact Information Office of Early Learning Contact Information Bobbie Burnham Melvin W. Carter III education.state.mn.us