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.