Head StartPreschool Collaboration in Iowa

1
Head Start-Preschool Collaboration in Iowa

• A New Era
• A New Opportunity

2
Goal of the Statewide Voluntary 4-Year Old
Preschool

• To fund Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program for
  Four-Year-Old Children through collaborative
  partnerships among school districts, local
  communities and families.

3
Collaboration Language The Bill

• HF 877 (Section 4.A)
• The potential provider shall submit a
  collaborative program proposal that demonstrates
  the involvement of multiple community
  stakeholders including but not limited to, and
  only as applicable, parents, the school district,
  accredited nonpublic schools and faith-based
  representatives, the area education agency, the
  community empowerment area board, representatives
  of business, head start programs, shared visions
  and other programs provided under the auspices of
  the child development coordinating council,
  center-based and home-based providers of child
  care services, human services, public health, and
  economic development programs. The methods may
  include but are not limited to a school district
  providing evidence of a public hearing on the
  proposed programming and written documentation of
  collaboration agreements between the school
  district, existing community providers, and other
  community stakeholders addressing operational
  procedures and other critical measures.

Emphasis added
4
Collaboration Language The Rules

• 281-16.4(1-3)
• Teacher Requirements
• Collaborate with other agencies, organizations
  and board to further programs capacity to meet
  the diverse needs of children and families.
• Assist families in identifying and accessing
  available resources.
• Program Requirement
• Shall collaborate with families, early care
  providers, and community partners including
  community empowerment area boards, head start
  programs, shared visionslicensed child care
  centers, registered child development homes, area
  education agencies, child care resource and
  referral services, early childhood special
  education programs, services funded by Title I
  and family support programs to meet childrens
  needs. emphasis added
• Children can participate with minimal
  disruption.
• District Requirements
• A collaborative application with multiple
  stakeholders (including head start)
• Collaboration methods and evidence described.
• Collaboration agreements allowed with licensed
  preschools/child care centers under Ch. 237A or
  provided by a school district.

5
Why Collaborate?

• New York Study findings
• Two heads are better than one Superintendents
  dont have experience or educational background
  in early education
• It works Good success and 60 in community
  programs. Abbott at 70.
• Focus on serving children local control sparked
  both innovation and commitment to preK.

From A Diverse System Delivers for Pre-K
Lessons Learned in New York State, Washington,
D.C. Pre-K Now, July 2006.
6
New York Study The Benefits

• Number of children attending preschool
  dramatically increased.
• Teacher salaries in community based programs
  increased.
• More teachers sought certification.
• Parents reported higher satisfaction
• Kindergarten teachers reported better-prepared
  children.
• Community programs enhanced services and
  facilities.
• Developmentally appropriate practices increased
  across all settings

• More opportunities to serve children with special
  needs in inclusive settings.
• More enrollment among immigrant families
• Expanded services for ELLs.
• Children learning become more closely aligned
  across EC programs.
• Children had an easier transition.
• Educators began working across all settings to
  develop and disseminate best practices.

7
Study Conclusion

• The diverse systems approach has the potential
  to radically restructure early childhood services
  in a way that yields considerable benefits for
  children, families and communities.
• --Pre-K Now Research

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Areas for Possible Collaboration
9
Collaboration with Head Start Potential Benefits

• Meets quality program standards
• Links to wrap-around funding
• Maintains Head Start services for children in
  poverty.
• Access to Head Start TA and Professional
  Development

10
Main Elements of the Statewide Voluntary Four
Year Old Preschool
Head Start Connections
Head Start Performance Standards
Sometimes Yes Sometimes No
Head Start Child Outcomes Framework
Covered in HSPS