Early Learning AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT O CTOBER 9, 2018 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Early Learning

AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT OCTOBER 9, 2018

Early Learning

4K – By the Numbers

Year Number of 4K Students 2014 864 2015 699 2016 649 2017 644 2018 673

Collaborative Partnerships

• First Steps
• Kisner Foundation
• Ferst Readers
• Public Education Partners
• Aiken Regional Medical Center
• Aiken County Education Association – Retired

Smart Start

Smart Start is a research based, comprehensive curriculum designed especially for the PreK classroom.

• Approximately 580 students are currently in year 3 implementing

Waterford

• Starting with Smart Start in 4K
• Moving into Waterford Early Learning in 5k
• Continuing Waterford Early Learning in 1 grade

Smart Start Results 2016-17

Waterford Early Learning

Upstart

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About UPSTART

• UPSTART is an in-home school-readiness program that uses Waterford Institute’s award-

winning software.

• Preschool-age children receive an individualized reading, math and science curriculum

with an emphasis on reading.

• UPSTART forms a partnership with parents and caregivers to ensure all children obtain

the education necessary for success in school.

• Computers and internet are provided if the home does not have them.
• The program was established by the Utah State Legislature

in 2009. Through year 9, approximately 45,000 children have participated in UPSTART in the state.

• To demonstrate efficacy of the UPSTART program outside

Utah, Waterford implemented Pilot Programs across 18 different states that focused on various at-risk student populations.

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Waterford Assessments of Core Skills™ (WACS) adaptive computer-administered test Waterford™ adaptive and sequenced core curriculum Camp Consonant™ multisensory tutoring software

Educational Software Package

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“Early Learning Outcomes Framework” Aligned “12 Principles of Child Development and Learning that Inform Practice” Aligned Council of Administrators of Special Education “3-Year Endorsement (July 1, 2016)” South Carolina Early Learning Standards Curriculum Correlation 100% (December 2017)

Waterford Early Learning Correlations

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Where Does UPSTART Fit?

UPSTART is NOT intended to replace any early childhood education effort or program – Waterford’s goal is to improve access and help serve additional children. UPSTART has demonstrated an ability to overcome a number of barriers related to early education and can successfully prepare children that site-based programs may not be able to serve for school:

• Areas where access to transportation hinders early learning programming and services.
• Families not sending children to site-based preschool.
• Children who do not speak English or need additional language exposure.
• Children who need an additional cognitive boost receive focused instruction through multi-

sensory activities that are included under UPSTART’s individualized software.

• Children wait-listed for site-based programs, including Head Start or district pre-K.
• Children (and their families) who face the “technology” gap as well as the “achievement”

gap if they have never had access to a computer.

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UPSTART External Evaluations

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011

Brigance Growth Rate Comparison

UPSTART Control

2 4 6 8 10 12 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011

Bader Growth Rate Comparison

UPSTART Control

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UPSTART i3 Random Control Trial Effect Sizes

0.43

*

0.42

*

0.26

*

Brigance PELI Brigance Math Math Reading

* P < .05

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Utah Longitudinal Results

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Utah Longitudinal Results

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South Carolina UPSTART - Usage

20 40 60 80 100 120 140 OCT-30-2017 NOV-06-2017 NOV-13-2017 NOV-20-2017 NOV-27-2017 DEC-04-2017 DEC-11-2017 DEC-18-2017 DEC-25-2017 JAN-01-2018 JAN-08-2018 JAN-15-2018 JAN-22-2018 JAN-29-2018 FEB-05-2018 FEB-12-2018 FEB-19-2018 FEB-26-2018 MAR-05-2018 MAR-12-2018 MAR-19-2018 MAR-26-2018 APR-02-2018 APR-09-2018 APR-16-2018 APR-23-2018 APR-30-2018 MAY-07-2018 MAY-14-2018 MAY-21-2018

South Carolina UPSTART Pilot - Weekly Reading Usage

• The average weekly reading usage never dropped below the usage requirement

(75 minutes per week), representing significant parental engagement.

• The average weekly reading usage for South Carolina was 100 minutes.
• The average total for the year was 2,935 minutes from late October 2017 through

late May 2018.

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South Carolina UPSTART – WACS Reading Scores

1400 1600 1800 2000 2200 2400 2600 2800 3000

WACS Reading Scores Grouped by Subtests

Pretest Posttest

Measured Individual Skill Final WACS Score Grade Equivalent of Final WACS Score Letter Recognition 2062 Kindergarten Beginning* Letter Sound 2445 Kindergarten Intermediate Initial Sound 2443 Kindergarten Intermediate Blending 2449 Kindergarten Intermediate Listening Comprehension 2097 Kindergarten Beginning Non Words 2860 Kindergarten Advanced Sight Words 2818 Kindergarten Advanced Real Words 2815 Kindergarten Advanced Reading Comprehension 2598 Kindergarten Intermediate Vocabulary 2582 Kindergarten Intermediate * Highest possible level for this skill.

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Current Aiken UPSTART Pilot

6.07 52.81 68.31 78.91 80.22 20 40 60 80 100 8/27/18 9/3/18 9/10/18 9/17/18 9/24/18 Minutes

Average Weekly Usage

Average Weekly Usage Recommended Weekly Usage

There are two cohorts of children participating in the Aiken, South Carolina UPSTART pilot program.

• 26 children using UPSTART at home and the Children’s Place is

administering the program to 16 participants in the classroom. Through 4 weeks of the program:

• Average weekly usage for home-based participants has

been 84.48 minutes.

• Average weekly usage of Children’s Place participants has

been 57.98 minutes.