Early Childhood Family Education

1
Early Childhood/Family Education

• Dr. Ramona Paul, Assistant State Superintendent
• Professional Services
• State Department of Education
• Ramona_Paul_at_sde.state.ok.us
• [phone]

2
Kindergarten

• By the 2011-2012 school year, all Oklahoma
  districts must offer full-day Kindergarten.

3
Kindergarten

• Families have the option of a full- or half-day
  Kindergarten program. At minimum, state law
  requires all five-year-olds (on or before
  September 1) to attend a half-day Kindergarten
  program.

4
Kindergarten

• Adult/child ratio 120
• Maximum class size of 20
• 1.3 Half-day weight
• 1.5 Full-day weight

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Kindergarten
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Pre-Kindergarten

• 85 of Oklahoma school districts report being
  able to serve all four-year-old children who
  request enrollment in the program.

8
Pre-Kindergarten

• Half-day/full-day option
• Voluntary participation
• A bachelor-degreed, Early Childhood certified
  teacher

9
Pre-Kindergarten

• Adult/child ratio 110
• Increased readiness for reading and academic
  learning (Georgetown Study, 2003-2004)

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Pre-Kindergarten

• Easy transition to Kindergarten
• Curriculum appropriate for age development

11
Pre-Kindergarten
12
Pre-Kindergarten

• Over 70 of Oklahomas four-year-olds attend
  public school Pre-Kindergarten.

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Pre-Kindergarten Collaborations

• Nearly 37 of Oklahoma public school districts
  collaborate with an outside organization within
  the community for their Pre-Kindergarten
  programs.

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Three-year-olds in Public School

• 218 elementary-level sites in 153 Oklahoma school
  districts provide a classroom for three-year-old
  children.

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Three-year-olds in Public School

• Of these students, 823 are enrolled in a half-day
  program, while 1,147 are enrolled in a full-day
  program.

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Three-year-olds in Public School
Other includes Cherokee Nation, Creek Nation,
District, Department of Human Services, Five Star
Interlocal Cooperative, Indian Nation Community
Action Agency, Revolving Education Around
Partnerships, Special Education (013, 621, 625,
and 641 funds), and Title VII.
18
Pilot Early Childhood Program

• 10,000,000 in state funds
• Match from the private sector (15,000,000)
• For at-risk children aged 0 through 3

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Pilot Early Childhood Program
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Pilot Early Childhood Program

• Tulsa Community Action Project, grantee
• Bachelor-degreed, Early Childhood certified
  teacher
• Associate-degreed assistant teacher

21
Pilot Early Childhood Program

• Child Development Associate (CDA)-credentialed
  classroom aide
• On-site family support worker
• All staff trained in infant-toddler programming

22
Oklahoma Parents as Teachers

• Oklahoma Parents as Teachers (OPAT) served 98
  school districts and 4,657 families in the
  2007-2008 school year.

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Oklahoma Parents as Teachers

• OPAT provides services to families at a cost of
  350 per child.

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Oklahoma Parents as Teachers
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New Projects

• Master Teacher Program
• Early Childhood State Conference
  lthttp//www.ecaok.orggt
• Friday and Saturday,
• September 25 and 26, 2009

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New Projects

• OPAT grants available online
• lthttp//www.sde.state.ok.usgt
• Multiple Early Childhood documents available
  online at the Early Childhood Web site
• lthttp//www.sde.state.ok.usgt

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Contact

• Dr. Ramona Paul
• Assistant State Superintendent, Professional
  Services
• [phone]
• ltRamona_Paul_at_sde.state.ok.usgt
• Ms. Erin Gray
• Early Childhood Coordinator
• [phone]
• ltErin_Gray_at_sde.state.ok.usgt
• Ms. Mandy Gower
• Early Childhood Coordinator
• [phone]
• ltMandy_Gower_at_sde.state.ok.usgt