Report of the Working Group on School Readiness

EPILOGUE

For each recommendation offered in this plan, this report asked the question: WHY? It is now time to restate the question, this time from the standpoint of the children, their families, and their communities. How will their lives and prospects change if this plan is carried out?

INFANTS AND TODDLERS... will have a better start in life and a better chance for later achievement, thanks to the prenatal care available to all expectant mothers and universal access to regular health and developmental assessments. These assessments, as well as consistent care from health care homes, will allow more comprehensive well-baby care, geared to developmental as well as health issues. Health problems and developmental delays will be spotted and addressed more quickly. Babies will also benefit from the expanded range of employment and leave options parents will have as they decide on the best care for their newborns, and from the family support/parent education services available from School Readiness Centers. All of the adults who care for infants--whether relatives, neighbors, family child care providers, or teachers in center-based settings--will have chances to enhance their qualifications, interact with their peers, and improve their working conditions. Caregivers will be well trained and well compensated, and will meet high professional standards. Infants and toddlers will be well cared for in high-quality settings, where every child will have a small group experience under close supervision of a familiar caregiver. Their programs may be set in public schools, early care and education centers, family child care homes; all programs will offer a group setting, giving children (including those with disabilities or other special needs) chances to play and learn with their age-mates. The learning activities they encounter will conform to infant/toddler content standards, including enriching language experiences and respect for California’s diverse cultures. All of these policies, taken together, will allow infants and toddlers to have the secure attachments, responsive care, and early enriching experiences that are crucial to later school success.

PRESCHOOLERS... will also benefit from better health care and from the wide array of services available to their families. They will be able to attend preschool programs free of charge, if their parents choose to enroll them. Their programs may be set in public schools, child care centers, family child care homes; all programs will offer a group setting, giving children (including those with disabilities or other special needs) chances to play and learn with their age-mates. Their preschools will be high-quality settings, where every child will have an individualized learning plan developed in partnership with their parents and teacher and based on a comprehensive child/family assessment. Their teachers will be well trained and well compensated, and will meet high professional standards. The learning activities they encounter at preschool will conform to content standards, stressing rich language experiences and reflecting California’s diverse cultures. As preschoolers approach the age of school entry, their transition to kindergarten will be eased by ongoing, joint efforts by preschools, schools, and families to ensure continuity in children’s learning experiences. Children who are at risk of having trouble adjusting to kindergarten will get additional attention in the year before school entry, including an intensive summer program.

PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN... will be better prepared to benefit from classroom instruction, based on their rich early learning experiences. They will attend schools that are ready to address their strengths and needs—wherever they may be on their own unique pathways through childhood. Meeting their developmental needs and providing continuity will be key considerations of the educators who design their curricula and plan their day-to-day learning experiences. Through School Readiness Centers, their parents will continue to be linked to a wide array of services, and will have access to ongoing information about how to support their children’s school success. Children in the primary grades will continue to receive health and developmental services from health care homes. Based on a strong foundation of rich language experiences, they will get a good start as readers. They will recognize the value of knowing more than one language; most will be well on their way toward functioning well in two languages.

FAMILIES... will be better able to work productively and contribute to the well-being of their families and communities. Parents will be able to choose from a wide variety of flexible, coordinated services for their young children, including health care coverage; regular health and development assessments; high-quality, safe early care and education programs; and other supports geared to the needs of individual children and families. They will have a health and development passport for each child, so that when they move to a new locality, there will be continuity of care. Wherever they go in their communities – in the doctor’s office, at the library, at the local school, or in the welfare office – families will be able to find out about School Readiness Centers. These centers will offer a range of services and activities, based on community preferences and needs. Some may offer parent-to-parent support groups, parent education, or second-language instruction. All will serve as a hub for social services and will be able to make referrals and follow up on them. Parents will also be welcome in their children’s early education settings or schools and will be encouraged to take active part in creating individualized learning plans for their children. Over time, parents will have the satisfaction of knowing that they are better prepared for their parenting roles and that their children are better prepared to succeed in school and beyond.

COMMUNITIES... will take advantage of cross-sector partnerships to envision and implement early childhood services for their residents that reflect local cultures, languages, and preferences. They will have increased control over the design of services created with state funds; at the same time, they will be accountable for the quality of these programs. Communities will also benefit from a range of behind-the-scenes efforts to support and coordinate local programs, including strong governance, finance, and accountability systems. Communities will be able to get help from the county and the state as they strengthen equity and address a wide range of local issues, such as facilities, professional development, or curriculum development. Over time, communities stand to benefit immensely from the economic and civic contributions of residents who have been well prepared to succeed in school and beyond.