Reshaping Early Childhood Systems in Kentucky Terry Tolan Executive Director Governor’s Office of Early Childhood The Women’s Network 10 th Statewide Issues Forum

EVERY child in EVERY community ready... What does School Readiness mean? In Kentucky school readiness means... that each child enters school ready to engage in and benefit from early learning experiences that best promote the child’s success and ability to be Ready to Grow, Ready to Learn & Ready to Succeed.

2015 State of The State: Kentucky Kindergarten Entry Results Kentucky’s Children 54,949 Kindergarteners 22,567 (40.2%) served by State- funded Pre-K 12,864 (26.2%) served by Head Start 9,431 Families visited by HANDS (Home Visiting) 42.6% of Children living 150% of FPL or below (0-6) 24,361 receiving Child Care Subsidy

Kentucky’s History of Serving Young Children 1990s Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) Family Resource Centers Full Utilization agreements Head Start in all 120 Counties 2000s KIDS Now Initiative (25% Tobacco Settlement) STARS statewide rating system (voluntary) Kentucky Early Childhood Standards Parent Guides Compendium Continuous Assessment Guide Governors Task Force on Early Childhood Development & Education HANDS Home visiting statewide

The Research... Emerging Information 40% of Children 0-5 not in organized programs prior to kindergarten James Heckman: Character skills and “soft skills” Whole child approach: five developmental domains Importance of social emotional development Effective adult-child interactions in early learning programs Effects of toxic stress on early development (ACEs) Dialogic reading and serve and return

What does School Readiness mean? Kentucky’s History of Serving Young Children 2010s Kindergarten Readiness Definition Universal Uniform Kindergarten Screen Alignment of EC Standards to Common Core and Head Start United Way Born Learning Academies Growth of CECCs Early Childhood Profiles $44.3 million Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge Kentucky All STARS Required STARS Participation

Inclusive Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement System (TQRIS) Expansion of Born Learning® Academies Integration of Strengthening Families Responsive Professional Development Integration of a unified Registry for Professional Development Expansion of the Longitudinal Data System (LDS) Components of the Plan What’s next: Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge

State Leaders Urge Investing in Early Childhood Programs The SREB Early Childhood Commission calls for states to raise the quality of early education programs and ensure they are well-coordinated across multiple agencies and budgets. The recommendations in Building a Strong Foundation: State Policy for Early Childhood Education also cover wider access and accountability. The central goal: high-quality programs with teachers specifically trained to work with young children. What’s next: Growing Support

What’s Next: Future Recommendations More at risk kids in high quality programs Expanded collaborative delivery of public preschool 200% of Poverty High quality public and private providers with state funding High quality professional EC workforce Enhanced funding for high quality programs Comprehensive and integrated policies and programs

SREB ECC Concludes What we know today about how young children learn builds an inarguable case for making early childhood development a priority in our states. The challenges are complex, but the evidence is compelling. Investing now in our youngest lays a sturdy foundation for all of our later investments. The sooner the better for a strong start in life.

Let’s make sure every child in every community enters school ready to grow, ready to learn, and ready to succeed!

Web and Social Media Terry Tolan Governor’s Office of Early Childhood 125 Holmes St. Frankfort, KY (502) Contact Information