2014 Cradle to Career Network Convening StriveTogether October 16, 2014 Infusing Literacy Into Existing Summer Programming

Developing an outcomes orientation among our partners does far more for our students than being troubleshooters or problem-solvers.

Shelby County, TN

33% entering kindergartners in 2013 were performing at grade level for early reading. 36% of students were reading proficiently by 3 rd Grade. 35% of students were proficient in Math in 7 th grade 11% of 11 th graders were college ready according to the ACT benchmarks 45% students who graduated in 2013 did not enroll in a postsecondary opportunity. ~ 6,000 students left behind

The Early Literacy Challenge

*Note: ~3,000 fewer students in Spring data file

Collaborative Action Network Strategies

3 rd Grade Reading Strategies Kindergarten readiness Using data to inform pre-k instruction (e.g. lesson planning, coaching teachers, data analysis). Summer literacy interventions Implemented 90-minute literacy interventions across multiple 3 rd Grade Reading CAN partners. After-school reading interventions Working with 3 rd Grade Reading CAN to adopt and implement evidence-based reading interventions.

Attendance Working with Seeding Success Leadership Table to develop community wide attendance campaign, with a particular focus on pre-k – 3 rd grade students. Physiological barriers Partnering with Southern College of Optometry to set up a temporary clinic in an elementary school to provide comprehensive examinations, including providing glasses, at all Achievement Schools in the Frayser neighborhood. 3 rd Grade Reading Strategies

Convener: Literacy Mid- South “ Literacy Mid-South improves the quality of life in our community through education by providing literacy programs for adults and children as well as a network of collaborative projects with some of the Mid-South's finest educational organizations. Our organization was formed to help people of all ages and backgrounds achieve the critical literacy skills they need to navigate the world.”

The Summer Intervention

The Focus & Intervention Resource Scan Available Structure Human Capital Within participating network members Content experts within the community Phonics and Phonemic Awareness Reading A-Z lessons 45 minutes Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension Engaged read-aloud Appropriately leveled book 45 minutes

Site Selection Community organizations recognized the need to align summer programming to complement school curriculum. Four CAN member organizations with 8 sites were the initial cohort Skill level differences mandated one member not participate leaving 3 members covering 6 sites

Implementation What Worked: Matching curriculum to skills Engaging local experts in volunteer training and curriculum design What Didn’t: Lessons were too rigid and centrally dictated Program structure, particularly reporting and communication, was insufficient

Implementation Things to change: Involve participating members more in program design Use a granting system for resources Create communication plan with participating members in advance Begin the planning process with participating members much sooner

Finding Opportunities

Consider 1.Where can you find opportunities to initiate small changes or experiments? 2.What types of organizations or agencies make up your partnership and networks? 3.In what activities are they engaged? 4.What resources are available? 5.How can these activities impact the indicators you are tracking? Take 3 minutes to think this through. Then we’ll discuss.