Preschool Sustainability Report September 12, 2018 Purpose of - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Preschool Sustainability Report September 12, 2018

Purpose of Preschool Sustainability Committee ● To develop a shared understanding with a broad stakeholder group of the importance of preschool education for the city of Winchester To develop a shared understanding of the VPI+ program and how it differs ● from private day care and private preschools ● To develop a sustainability plan that will begin in FY20 To prioritize the components of the VPI+ program in order to identify ○ cost saving measures ○ To investigate other funding sources with the WPS budget that can be diverted in order to sustain the VPI+ preschool program To develop an advocacy group for increased funding ○

Preschool Sustainability Committee Membership Harry Smith United Bank John Hill Vice Mayor Wilborn Roberson BB & T Matt Peterson Habitat for Humanity Mary Margaret Wise Community Member Nadine Pottinga United Way NSV Dr. Karen Huff Shenandoah University Rick Miller Director of Finance Erica Truban School Board Member Angie Cain Preschool Coordinator Jason Van Heukelum Superintendent Nan Bryant VACDES Principal

Part 1: Preschool Update

● According to a 2012 report, less than 50% of poor children show up to school prepared with the early math and reading skills, emotional and behavioral control, and physical well-being needed to be ready to learn, and that disadvantage persists into adulthood. ○ In WPS Preschool, less than 10% of our preschool children in this program show up to preschool ready to meet the PALS PreK benchmark ● Much of this is attributed to what researchers call the “word gap.” By the time these children are 5 years old, they will have heard 30 million fewer words than their wealthy peers. ○ Because the word gap first appears during periods of critical neurological and cognitive development, its effects cannot be easily remedied by later interventions. ● When a child is deprived of food, there is public outrage. And this is because child hunger is correctly identified as a moral and economic issue that moves people to action. We believe that the poverty of vocabulary and school readiness skills should be discussed with the same passion as child hunger.

How do students qualify for VPI+ Preschool? Family Size 100% Poverty 200% Poverty 2 $16,240 $32,480 3 $20,420 $40,840 4 $24,600 $49,200 5 $28,780 $57,560 60% of WPS 40% of WPS preschool preschool children children

Who did we serve? • 141 children completed the 2017 - 2018 school year in VPI+ classrooms • 43% female, 57%male • 6% African-American, 62% Hispanic, 11% White, 21% Other • 7% were eligible for Special Education services

Who did we serve? • 64% in good/excellent health, 19% in fair/poor health, 17% no response • 41% English as the home language • 59% Spanish as the home language • 52% at or below federal poverty level and 48% slightly above • 62% of the students' mothers did not graduate from high school

2017- 18 Literacy Data Statistically significant gains on all 6 literacy skills: • alphabet recognition • beginning sound awareness • name writing • print/word awareness • rhyme awareness • nursery rhyme awareness

2017 - 2018 Math Data Significant gains on early math skills • Small, but statistically significant gains, in raw scores. On average, children’s scores increased 1.8 points. • Average standard scores in Fall and Spring • 73% of WPS children scored at or above the mean in the fall compared to 80% statewide. • 88% of WPS children scored at or above the mean in the spring compared to 87% statewide.

Teacher Quality Ratings School Year 2017-2018 • Virginia Early Childhood Foundation sent raters to 53 schools/sites • VDOE goal was for 80% of sites to be rated at levels 4 or 5 by Year 3. WPS was one of only a handful of districts who met that goal WPS Teacher Quality Ratings Quality Level 1 0 Quality Level 2 0 Quality Level 3 1 (16%) Quality Level 4 4 (68%) Quality Level 5 1 (16%)

Family Surveys • 100% return rate • 99% satisfaction rating • 100% improvement in Kindergarten readiness

Family Survey Comments Very grateful for all the help provided for my son and the dedication and attention so Highly effective communication! I am grateful that my son can grow and learn . The school for the continued efforts of the teachers and is attentive to Hispanic parents. I feel part of administrator who helped with behavior and this great school. learning this year. My child loved coming to school every day. The My child’s teacher was amazing! She used her teacher/child relationship free time after school hours to talk to me about motivated her to come daily. my son’s progress. She was very kind and She would’ve been happy to patient with him. She made me feel comfortable come on the weekend, too! and sure that he was receiving a wonderful Everyone should have this education. I also loved how many school events opportunity! there are. Great program!

WPS VPI+ as a State Showcase Site Quality Matters Dedicated Leadership ● ● Instructional Coach (1:8) Weekly feedback through CLASS observation tool ○ ○ Continuous action plans for each teacher ● Family Engagement Coordinator

Preschool Sustainability - Budget

Current Budget Cost Salaries/Benefits $851,550 Consumables/Materials/cell phones (3) $10,000 Dietary Services (snacks, unpaid meals) $12,426 Field trips $3,272 Formative/Independent Assessments $83,000 GOLD+/SRI Family Engagement/Comprehensive Services $5,200 Professional Development/Coach Training $13,702 Approximate Total $980,000

FY 20 Funding Options $983,711 for 6 VPI+ Classrooms $113,743 $869,000 Preschool Efficiencies $359,606 $113,743 $510,362 New State VPI Efficiencies ● Efficiencies = reduction in curriculum assessments, professional development, personnel and supplies that were required by the federal VPI+ grant

Funding . . . additional opportunities $983,711 for 6 VPI+ Classrooms $113,743 $869,000 Efficiencies $113,743 $359,606 $510,362 Preschool New State VPI Efficiencies $100,000 $100,000 $359,606 $113,743 $310,362 WPS Title 1 New State VPI Efficiencies Contributions

Public Outreach Plan Infographic - Erica, Rick, Wilborn, Angie - Reducing academic gap (Winchester data) - Return on Investment $$$ - Richard - Testimonial quotes from influential business on how pre-k helps with child care for workers - Program awards for the Winchester implementation Social Media Campaign and traditional media - Star, WINC, The River - Matt & Jason - Video of kids starting behind - Videos of personal stories . . . students, parents, kindergarten teachers - Twitter polls/chats, geo targeting Direct speaking at School Board and Council meetings - Angie, parental advisory group - testimonials Letters to community leaders for signatures of support - Richard, Nadine, Wilborn, Harry - Business community . . . local CEOs - Medical community . . . pediatricians - Mary Margaret Personal outreach to community groups - NAACP, North End Citizens, retirement community, rotary/kiwanis/lions, PTAs - Jason & Jake, John Hill, Karen, Harry Smith