Report focuses on collaborations for early childhood success

For preschool, Head Start and child care programs

This from the Lane Report:

The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence released a report [yesterday] that provides details about elements of successful collaborations across the state involving state-funded preschool, Head Start and child care programs.

“Pre-K Collaboration in Kentucky: Maximizing Resources for Kindergarten Readiness is designed to provide information for school leaders, early care and education professionals and advocates on possible avenues for providing high-quality services while dealing with the realities of limited resources.

The report said factors to consider when developing a collaborative program include:

• Leadership that is committed to and focused on early childhood programming
• Facilities – whether in a school or a community-based child care program
• Staff and professional development to ensure that instruction is delivered by qualified teachers with support from classroom assistants
• An understanding of the different regulatory requirements that partner programs must meet
• Financing that focuses on maximizing state and federal resources
• Transportation costs that can be major expenditures, particularly in rural communities
• Recruiting students by offering services that meet the scheduling needs of working families