Thurston County Council for Children and YouthJanuary 2011
Thurston County Early Childhood Coalition
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The State of Children Birth to Five in Thurston County
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Thurston Early Childhood CoalitionIncreasing School Readiness and School Success
An ad-hoc, interagency collaborative
Members from the spectrum of early health, education and social services providers along with community volunteers
Began with United Way in 2001, but independent since 2007Governance structure: bylaws, officers, paying membership, and a fiscal agentFunding: dues, foundations, and state
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VALUES
Collaboration with stakeholders throughout the county
Communication about early learning and care issues
Community consensus to develop and maintain systems to provide early learning and care services to children and families
Commitment to fund the early learning and care systems work
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Washington State Early Learning Plan
Ready and Successful Children
Ready and Successful Parents, Families and Caregivers
Ready and Successful Early Learning Professionals
Ready and Successful Schools
Ready and Successful Systems and Communities
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Why Is Early Learning Important?
80% of the brain develops before age 3The achievement gap begins before kindergartenThe readiness gap is not restricted to children from low-income familiesThere is a six year spread in pre-reading skills at the beginning of kindergarten (3 – 8 years)Children who start behind typically stay behind
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What We Know About Early Learning
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Early LearningChildren are born learning, and through early experiences the basic architecture of the brain is built.
Early learning happens through relationships and nurturing experiences and environments.
Brain connections are built best in an environment of security and low stress.
The ability to process complex information, cope with stress, and feel empathy builds on this early hard-wiring of the brain.
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Brain Growth versus Public ExpendituresOn Children Age 0-18
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Age in Years Public Spending
Brian Grow th
Research demonstrates that the human brain achieves approximately 85 percent of its adult size by age 2 and one-half years, and 90 percent of total growth by age 3.
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Investing in Early Learning is an Economic Development Strategy
Return on investment in early learning is especially strong for very young, at-risk children.
Community efforts to support school readiness make business sense.
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High Return on Investment in Quality Programs for At-Risk Young Children
ROI = Ranges from 1:4 to 1:17 Perry Preschool – 40 years Abecedarian Chicago Child-Parent
Key Elements for Success: More than preschool: Comprehensive Highly qualified and paid staff Intensive service model with home visits and year
round services.
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Return on Investment with Quality Programs: Participants versus non-
participants
Higher graduation rates from high school
Higher earnings as adults
Reduced criminal justice involvement
Decrease in child abuse and neglect
Economic Stability: owned a home, car and had a savings account.
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What We Know About Thurston County
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Thurston County Population From 2005 to 2020, the number of
children ages 0-14 is expected to grow by 45%.
27,379 children birth to five (2008) 11% Hispanic
37% at poverty level F/R lunch 100% = 22,050 for family of 4 185% - 40,793 for family of 4
22% with single parent home 32% with at least one parent with HS
graduation or less 46% participate in WIC
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Thurston County Kindergarten Readiness Survey
Conducted by United Way in 2004, 2008, 2010
Perceptual survey of kindergarten teachers
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School Readiness and SuccessNearly one in five Thurston County children entering kindergarten have difficulty with:
Basic literacy Basic math Self-direction Attentiveness
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Thurston County Kindergarten Survey
HEALTH2004 2008 2010
Physical health (adequate rest, nourishment, energy level) 13% 13% 14%
Fine motor development (using scissors, holding a pencil) 22% 24% 21%
Gross motor development (tossing a ball, running, jumping) 12% 12% 9%
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Thurston County Kindergarten Survey
LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
2004 20082010
Receptive language (ability to listen and understand) 20% 18% 15%
Expressive language (ability to tell about a picture when looking at it) 15% 14% 12%
Communication skills (ability to express needs and wants in socially appropriate ways) 15% 14% 14%
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Thurston County Kindergarten Survey
COGNITIVE ABILITIES
2004 2008 2010
Literacy (able to read own name, letter awareness, beginning book sense) 20% 22% 20%
Math (counting to ten, knowing shapes) 16% 21% 16%
Memory (reciting simple songs, rhymes or alphabet) 14% 16% 12%
Self-direction (following through with simple, two step directions) 17% 20% 16%
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Thurston County Kindergarten Survey
SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
2004 2008 2010
Social development (ability to play and work with others) 16% 15% 14%
Problem solving (attempting to resolve conflicts with peers in an age appropriate manner) 18% 18% 17%
Cooperation (ability to take turns and share with peers occasionally) 16% 16% 15%
Attentiveness (ability to listen and not be disruptive during age appropriate learning experiences) 21% 22% 21%
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Thurston County Kindergarten Survey
APPROACHES TO LEARNING
2004 2008 2010
Self -worth (confidence in his or her ability to succeed) 15% 12% 10%
Enthusiasm (eagerness and curiosity about new learning experiences) 9% 10% 7%
Confidence in others 8% 9% 5%
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Current ProgramsHome Visitation Programs: Federal and State funded: Nurse Family Partnership, Parents As Teacher – focused on infants and toddlersPreschool Programs: Fee based: cooperative, private, and faith based. Unlicensed and unregulated.
Preschool Programs: Federal and State funded: Head Start/ECEAP, special education: highly regulated.
Child Care: A combination of fees paid by parents and subsidies paid by federal dollars. regulated licensed family and center; family, friends, and neighbor care
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Learning Environments for Young Children
13, 075 children under 5 years old
Licensed Centers38%
Licensed Family Homes17%
Parent, Family, Friends & Neighbor Care
38%
Cooperative Preschools2%
Infant/Toddler Early Intervention
2%
Head Start/ ECEAP3%
Licensed Centers Licensed Family Homes
Cooperative Preschools Infant/Toddler Early Intervention
Head Start/ ECEAP Parent, Family, Friends & Neighbor Care
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Changing Landscape
State Department of Early Learning Coordinates with OSPI and Thrive By
FiveChild care, ECEAP, Infant/Toddler with
disabilities
Statewide vision and plan
Regional and local coalitions working in partnership with DEL, Thrive by Five
Who “Gets Its”?
State and federal policy makers
Public Schools
Many community members
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So – What is Needed?
Resources to complete the system and support all children to thriveUniversal preschool in community based
settingsHigh quality childcare for allParent education – new parents dailyChoices for parents
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Early Learning is the foundation for building human capital…
If you can’t make waves make ripples…
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