1. Alignment and Coordination Between K-12 and Preschool Readiness Dr. Susan Tave Zelman Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction National Governor’s Association Governors Forum on Quality Preschool December 15-16, 2003

2. Early Opportunities to Develop Young Child’s Brain Fourth-graders stumble on proficiency tests Goals 2000 plan: all children ready for school State of the State – Ohio Ohio Head Start expands to serve 23,000 children

3. Standards-Based Education in Ohio 1.Raise Expectations 2.Build Capacity 3.Focus on Results

4. Ohio’s Approach Standards Curriculum models Assessments Accountability Teacher Quality

5. Closing achievement gaps: an issue of equity –63% of children under age five in out-of- home care (400,000 children) –25% of children under age five living in poverty (100,000 children) –6,000 licensed centers and 11,000 family child care homes –50,000 staff with varying levels of competence –42% yearly staff turnover rate

6. Readiness and closing achievement gaps Readiness is the match between the readiness of the child and the environments that serve them. ( Kagan & Rigby, 2003 )

7. Equity through an Aligned P- 12 Educational System 10-year framework: Building an Early Learning System for Ohio’s Young Children

8. Raise expectations: aligned academic content standards Early learning standards now developed for pre-K in English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies.

9. Raise expectations: aligned academic content standards Continuum of Learning (slide is available ) Shows alignment of Pre-K, K, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 Indictors

10. Raise expectations: aligned assessments Working with Jobs and Family Services to identify what would be a good standardized measure to be used in all settings that would inform instruction ELCO project: assess child, assess program, assess conditions and environment for learning School readiness screener: indicator of how children are doing when they enter K K-2 diagnostics

11. Build capacity of aligned system Professional development in early literacy with Department of Jobs & Family Services so we can focus on language development, child care, etc.

12. Build Capacity Investment in Preschool Teachers –ODJSFS, tiered licensure. Ohio requires our teachers in state-funded preschool programs to have an AA degree by 2008. –Create tiered licensure and compensation plan to deploy and provide training for child care, Head Start, Pre-K.

13. Build capacity of aligned system Investment in Financing the Preschool System –Universal Financial Project: Rick Brandon –Blue Ribbon Task Force on Financing Student Success

14. Accountability Set statewide school readiness indicators for children: KIDS COUNT project. Standardized preschool assessment in all settings K-2 diagnostics

15. Aligned policies Policy Matters, Lynn Kagan, Improving the Readiness of Children for School Audit against policies, set goals, create a strategic plan

16. Aligned Policies Audit: Improving the Readiness of Children for School Strategic Plan PlanUniversal Financial Project Blue Ribbon Task Force

17. Abraham Lincoln “A Child is a person who is going to carry on what you have started. He is going o sit where you are sitting, and when you are gone, attend to those things which you think are important. You may adopt all the policies you please, but how they are carried out depends on him. He will assume control of your cities, states, and nations. He is going to move in and take over your churches, schools, universities and corporations. All your books are going to be judged, praised or condemned by him The fate of humanity is in his hands…” ---Abraham Lincoln