School Readiness

Promoting Success by 6

The Need...

Study after study shows that a child who comes to school with the social, emotional and cognitive skills needed for success is more likely to do well in school, graduate and go on to college. That same child is more likely to become the productive kind of worker that helps our

community compete for the world-class jobs of tomorrow.

Children who obtain the right skills early are going to do better later. What we do to help disadvantaged children in their formative years can be a game-changer. An investment in quality

experiences pays big dividends. It's like the miracle of compound interest: the more you invest early, the bigger the payoff later.

Bridging the Gap...

The role of School Readiness is to assist

schools, caregivers, parents and children create

a smooth and seamless transition from home to

school and beyond. It also serves as a facilitator

building linkages between stakeholders through

grants, events, materials and higher quality

standards for all providers. Solutions include:

- Transition Teams established in all 17

Westmoreland County school districts as well

as one team in Greene County and one team

in Fayette County;

- Providing funds to help support quality transition

activities so all children enter kindergarten ready

to learn and succeed;

- Encouraging participation by providers in

recognized quality improvement systems such

as PA Keystone STARS and NAEYC (National

Association for the Education of Young

Children; and

- Providing funds for registered early care and

education providers to improve the quality of

their programs and for professional

development.

Resources:

School Readiness 2007-2008 Report

School Readiness 2008-2009 Report

Tip of the Month:

Specific praise works better than "good job."

Let children know you notice their hard work. "Wow, you shared that toy. I know how much you like that toy. Good for you."
Provide gentle correction. Instead of saying "You put your shoes on the wrong feet," try, "You put your shoes on all by yourself? Before we tie them, let's see if they might feel even better if we switched them."
Encourage a child to keep trying at something that is difficult for them; don't let them give up. Then let them know you saw how hard they worked. "You worked really hard to find the right place for that puzzle piece and you did it!"

Did You Know:

90% of brain development occurs before the

age of five.

Every $1 spent on high quality early education

saves $7 in reduced future expenditures for

special education, deliquency, crime control,

welfare and local taxes

What's Happening:

April has been designated as the Month of the

Young Child - a time to recognize the

importance of early learning and early literacy

for all children. Watch for upcoming

activities.....

School Readiness will host a Director's Dinner

May 19, 2010 at WCCC to celebrate early

childhood professionals.

The 8th Annual School Readiness Transition

Team Retreat will be held at the Fred Rogers

Center on June 18, 2010.

Our Work:

Over 145 representatives from 19 school

districts and early education centers attend the

annual transition team retreat held at the Fred

Rogers Center in June 2009.

In 2009, School Readiness was able to award

funds to 30 registered child care centers

participating in Keystone STARS or NAEYC to

improve the quality of their programming.

Fall 2009 - School Readiness, through its

dedicated volunteers, provided 764 preschool

children attending early care and education

programs throughout Westmoreland County

with a preliminary vision screening.