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

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

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

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.

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 2016-17 - 4 times

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Q & A

Planning Time

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?

Please contact us! Page Meyer Karen Soine Heather Newman 253-373-7118 Page.meyer@kent.k12.wa.us Karen Soine 425-204-2274 Karen.soine@rentonschools.us Heather Newman Add contact info

Please contact us! Angelica Alvarez Natalie Hanni Mary Waldron 425-917-7842 aalvarez@psesd.org Natalie Hanni 253-307-5388 nhanni@psesd.org Mary Waldron 425-917-7805 mwaldron@psesd.org Add contact info

Questions? 5 min