Welcome Summer Champions

Shelly Masur President, Redwood City School Board Gina Quiney Legislative Aide, Office of County Supervisor Carole Groom The Inspiring Summer Co-Chairs

The goals for today  Explain The Big Lift  Explore your role  Brainstorm how to improve quality and increase access  Create a network Agenda

Erica Wood Vice President, Silicon Valley Community Foundation A lead sponsor of The Peninsula Partnership Leadership Council Introducing The Big Lift

Peninsula Partnership Leadership Council San Mateo County “The Big Lift”

Proud to call San Mateo County home But many children struggle in school One of most prosperous counties (top 1%) in the country A world leader in technology and innovation Stepped up to provide universal healthcare coverage for children

The facts 42% of county 3 rd graders, 3000 children, are not reading proficiently 60%+ for Latino, African American, and Pacific Islander children Source: Dataquest Those behind tend to stay behind 88% of dropouts could not read proficiently by 3 rd grade Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics’ National Longitudinal Study of Youth 42% of county 3 rd graders, 3000 children, are not reading proficiently 60%+ for Latino, African American, and Pacific Islander children Source: Dataquest Those behind tend to stay behind 88% of dropouts could not read proficiently by 3 rd grade Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics’ National Longitudinal Study of Youth Why this matters: Before 3 rd grade, children learn to read. After 3 rd grade, they must read to learn. Why this matters: Before 3 rd grade, children learn to read. After 3 rd grade, they must read to learn.

The cost 42% of the county’s kids will struggle academically or may drop out They are likely to be under-employed or unemployed throughout their lives The cost? Lower productivity and competitiveness Lower tax revenue and higher social costs More crime and spending on prisons The cost? Lower productivity and competitiveness Lower tax revenue and higher social costs More crime and spending on prisons

Costs will grow Key trends : Fewer children Fewer people moving here Surging numbers of retirees Will trigger crises in: Workforce replacement Shrinking tax base Source: Pitkin-Myers California Generational Projections State population growth: Implication: We must educate every child because our future depends on it 65 +

Why can’t the kids read? Many assume it is the schools’ fault, but: 50% of our children are not ready for kindergarten Lack critical academic, social and emotional skills Source: School Readiness and Student Achievement: A Longitudinal Analysis of Santa Clara and San Mateo County Students Key insight: There is no system from birth to 4.

Our education system has not changed We compete globally, but the U.S. has a patchwork non-system from birth to 4, when critical learning must take place. U.S. ranked 26 th in preschool participation 3300 county kids who qualify don’t have access 60% of county parents now work full-time Key insight: If we were designing the school system today, it would start at age 3. Sources: OECD; : School Readiness and Student Achievement: A Longitudinal Analysis of Santa Clara and San Mateo County Students

100 % Kindergart en - Ready for school 3 rd grade - Reading at grade level 12 th grade – % graduate from high school 50% Children from lower income families Children from higher & middle income families opportunity gap Kindergarten 3rd time Birth Children who did not attend quality preschool Children who attended quality preschool Opportunity gap academic progress The opportunity gap

A systems response to a systems problem  Quality preschool for all 3 and 4 year-olds  All-day kindergarten, currently optional, should be standard  And children’s reading progress must be sustained by: Addressing chronic absences Providing quality summer programs  Quality preschool for all 3 and 4 year-olds  All-day kindergarten, currently optional, should be standard  And children’s reading progress must be sustained by: Addressing chronic absences Providing quality summer programs

The ROI on the right start Research shows investment in early education returns more than $8 for every dollar spent

San Mateo County responds Peninsula Partnership Leadership Council (PPLC) 80 organizations, a multi- sector collaborative Focused on collective action to improve 3 rd grade reading Peninsula Partnership Leadership Council (PPLC) 80 organizations, a multi- sector collaborative Focused on collective action to improve 3 rd grade reading

The Big Lift Supporters Now: 500 By 2015: 25K Our collaborative is strong & growing 50 members 30 members 4 active workgroups 135 members 80 orgs. 250 now By 2015: 25K

Provide quality preschool for underserved 3- and 4-year- olds Make big system policy change Greater readiness Goal: Increase kids ready for kindergarten from 50% to 80% Better attendance Goal: Reduce chronic absence by 50% Inspiring summers Goal: 80% of kids reading below level attend a quality enrichment programs Sustain progress through The Big Lift Plan Overall Goal: Go from 58% reading at grade level by 3 rd grade to 80% by 2020 Overall Strategy: Pursue a “big lift” on educational outcomes via collaboration The Big Lift Plan

Develop an awareness campaign on importance of reading well by 3 rd grade Conven community leaders to work together on this initiative starting in communities that need them most Develop an awareness campaign on importance of reading well by 3 rd grade Conven community leaders to work together on this initiative starting in communities that need them most What the PPLC collaborative will do Develop an awareness campaign Conven e Spread promising initiatives, 1 3 2

At The Big Lift convening, 100 top SMC leaders said they would publicly support us 50 of them volunteered to be our Strategic Advisors Board of Supervisors allocated $10 million in Measure A funds Contingent on developing detailed plans and raising matching funds Now working on the preschool model and raising matching funds Also working on sustainable long-term public funding options Results to date

42% of our 3 rd graders aren’t reading proficiently due to an opportunity gap The cost of the opportunity gap is high: we needs the skills of every child We need a systems response to a systems problem The ROI? Better educational outcomes for all children; greater prosperity

It is a big lift, but we can do it

Lose up to 2 months of reading achievement, while their middle class peers make gains Source: Annie E Casey Foundation “Opportunity gap” in accessing quality summer programs contributes to achievement gap Only 18% from low-income households participate Source: Summer Matters Campaign Summer learning loss During the summer, many lower income children fall behind in academic skills. Achievement Gap

Summer learning loss If we provide quality preschool for all SMC 3- and 4-year olds, but don’t provide enriching summers, they may end up losing ground and falling below reading proficiency at 3 rd grade Key insight: These investments in early learning work best in tandem Quality summer programs for kids K-3 Goal: 3 rd grade reading proficiency in SMC 2 years of quality preschool for 3- and 4-year olds

Evidence that summer learning helps Rand Corporation Students who attended high-quality summer programs performed better in school The positive effects last for at least 2 years Johns Hopkins Univ. Library reading programs improved reading scores & prevented summer learning loss Higher scores on reading tests More books in homes More summer reading Greater readiness to learn in the fall Annie E. Casey Fdn. Summer experiences during early school years yield higher achievement Higher placement in college prep track More high school completion More attendance at a 4-year college

Many serve low-income students, many do not Some operate full-day programs that provide a safe space when parents work; some operate shorter hours Some provide academic support and enrichment, some just enrichment, some just academic support Some are affiliated with schools, some are not – many districts rely on partners to provide summer programs What is happening in San Mateo County Sent a questionnaire, received 10 replies. We need your input…

The big picture State budget cuts have hit school summer programs hard Where you live makes a difference in access to quality summer programs We estimate 6000 SMC children in grades K-3 lack access to quality summer programs

Over long-term, raise money to support added quality and access to summer programs What we propose for San Mateo County In short term, raise awareness of role of summer learning in children becoming proficient readers Engage you in enriching your program & working on access Encourage collaboration to share best practices and find creative solutions

on importance of summer learning in reading well by 3 rd grade summer providers and create network to collaborate on summer learning challenge starting in communities that need them most Support preschool roll by making sure the children have quality summer experiences in their K-3 years on importance of summer learning in reading well by 3 rd grade summer providers and create network to collaborate on summer learning challenge starting in communities that need them most Support preschool roll by making sure the children have quality summer experiences in their K-3 years Key strategies Develop an awareness campaign Conven e Spread best practices Support preschool rollout 4 Goal: Have 80% of children reading below level attend a high quality summer program by 2020.

“Once you can read, you can learn anything” But how do you learn to read? 1.You have to match sounds to letters 2.And you have to learn vocabulary What you do already You also need to have context to read well, and context is created by knowledge and experiences… and that’s where all of you come in You also need to have context to read well, and context is created by knowledge and experiences… and that’s where all of you come in

6 signs of a great program: 1.Broadens children’s horizons: Exposure to new experiences -- nature walks, museums, games 2.Includes a wide variety of activities: Reading, writing, math, science, arts – made fun and engaging 3.Helps youth build mastery: Improving in activities they enjoy -- creating a garden Defining quality summer programs 4. Fosters cooperative learning: Working with friends or in teams 5. Promotes healthy habits: Healthy food, physical recreation, outdoor activities 6.Lasts at least one month: A long enough time to benefit kids

You have two green dots and two red ones in your folder Put each of your green dots next to the two quality elements that your program is strongest in Put each of your red dots next to the quality elements that are most challenging for your program to deliver Directions for quality mapping

Brainstorm on improving quality Brainstorm ways to improve the quality of your program that don’t involve incremental funding Example: Improve quality through joint programming, like Park & Rec working with libraries Pick one person at each table to write down ideas and report for the group

Brainstorm on improving access Brainstorm ways to improve access to your program that don’t involve incremental funding Example: Create a list of programs in your area, including s, so you can refer families on your wait list to other options. Pick one person at each table to write down ideas and report for the group

Justina Cross Program Officer for Children, Families, and Communities; the David and Lucile Packard Foundation The Packard Foundation and summers

Are you in? I will publicly support this initiative I will meet once or twice a year with this group… I will look for ways to improve the quality of my program…. I will explore ways to increase access to my programs… I will work with other summer providers to support the rollout of quality preschool… I will fill out the questionnaire so we can map all the SMC resources….

It is a big lift, but we can do it