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Ohio's Ready Schools Initiative: Creating a Framework for School Readiness

Explore the impetus, framework, and implementation of Ohio's Ready Schools Initiative, addressing school readiness from a national and state perspective. Learn about the nine-step model for Ready Schools work, tools and templates used, and lessons learned.

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Ohio's Ready Schools Initiative: Creating a Framework for School Readiness

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  1. The Why, The What, The How, The WOW! Smart Start Conference May 5, 2011

  2. Overview & Goals for Today’s Session • TheWHY - Describe the impetus and reasoning behind our Ready Schools work from the national and state perspective • The WHAT - Outline Ohio’s Ready School Framework and our Nine Step Structural Model for Ready Schools work • TheHOW - Share processes, tools, and templates used in Ohio’s Ready Schools work • TheWOW! - Highlight activities, lessons learned, and unexpected findings from our Ready Schools work

  3. The WHY…… National Influence • In 1990, the National Education Goals Panel identified three components that contribute to school readiness • The readiness of the child; • Schools’ readiness for children; • Family and community supports and services that contribute to children’s readiness. • In 1998, the National Education Goals Panel proposed ten characteristics of “Ready Schools.” • Initial support and funding from W. K. Kellogg Foundation • Project partners included the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton, the Ohio Association of Elementary Schools Administrators (OAESA), and the Ohio Department of Education.

  4. The WHY…… State Approach • Response to “Ready Child” movement • Linkages with OAESA, ODE, and SPARK Ohio • Development of Ohio Ready School Resource Guide • Ohio’s roll out approach • Pilot schools • Regional roll out with trainings on use of Resource Guide • Competitive grants funded by the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton, United Way of Greater Cincinnati, and the Martha Holding Jennings Foundation significantly increased the number of participating pilot schools • State wide support and networking meetings • Current movement from pilot stage to initiative format

  5. The WHAT…… The Focus of Ohio’s Ready School Project • Improve linkages with the early care and education community • Alignment of goals, standards, expectations, curriculum, and assessments (PreK-3) • Improve services and communications with children and families • Monitor system change and document lessons learned

  6. The WHAT…… The Ohio Ready School Resource Guide

  7. The WHAT…… Ohio’s framework for a Ready School consists of seven components. While some components may evoke a greater sense of urgency than others, all are important, interrelated and complementary. Thus, efforts in one area are likely to bring improvements in other areas. Likewise, major gaps in one area may impede progress in certain other areas. Section 1 – Leadershipemphasizes planning. The information can be used to assess and track overall progress in creating a Ready School Action Plan that is integrated with existing district or building improvement plans. The information can be used to define specific strategies or as the basis for more targeted action plans. Section 2 – Transitionprovides information about developing relationships and activities that will help ease the adjustment process of children entering kindergarten, or moving from grade to grade. Section 3 – Supportive Environmentsdetails the steps for creating a safe and healthy environment that supports children’s social, emotional and cognitive development. Section 4 – Standards, Instruction, and Assessmentprovides a framework for continuity of early school experiences through effective design and alignment of curriculum and assessment. Section 5 – Diversityprovides guidance for serving children from diverse populations based on culture, language and ability. Section 6 – Home-School-Community Connectionshighlights the actions needed for improving relationships and increasing collaboration among all the adults and organizations that affect children. Section 7 – Adult Learning Communitiesprovides suggestions for the ongoing learning of administrators, teachers and other staff, family members, and community partners.

  8. The WHAT…… Ohio’s Structural Model for Ready Schools Work Signed a formal agreement Formed an ORS Site Leadership Team Administered the ORS Self-Assessments Developed, submitted for approval to OAESA, and implemented a one-year Action Plan Arranged two technical assistance site visits from ORS coaches Attended two to five cross-site meetings each year Conducted an evaluation process Planned for sustainability Disseminated information on progress and lessons learned NOTE: The above nine step structural model was identified and described through data collected and analyzed by the project evaluator from Wexford Institute.

  9. The HOW…… STEP 1 • Sign a formal agreement • The Superintendent of each pilot site’s school district along with the school principal signs a formal agreement with OAESA committing to the project work

  10. The HOW…… STEP 2 Form an ORS Site Leadership Team • Each team is composed of local stakeholders including members such as school staff, the district and private pre-school teachers and administrators, local daycare providers, and local agencies that support families and pre-school children

  11. The HOW…… STEP 3 Administer the ORS Self-Assessments • Each site administers the pre-measures to identify their status on the seven components of being an Ohio Ready School

  12. STEP 3 - Administer Ready School Self-Assessment

  13. The HOW…… STEP 4 Develop and Implement an Action Plan • Develop a one-year Ready School Action Plan that identifies goals, indicators of progress, activities, persons responsible, timeline, and budget • Review draft Ready School Action Plan with ORS Coach for refinement & modification • Submit Ready School Action Plan to OAESA for approval • Implement Ready School Action Plan

  14. STEP 4 - Develop & Implement Action Plan

  15. STEP 4 - Develop & Implement Action Plan

  16. STEP 4 - Develop & Implement Action Plan

  17. STEP 4 - Develop & Implement Action Plan

  18. STEP 4 - Develop & Implement Action Plan

  19. The HOW…… STEP 5 Arrange Technical Assistance Visits • Arrange two technical assistance visitswith an ORS coach who guides the site in developing and implementing their Action Plan as well as identifying and addressing challenges. • Coaching activities are provided through site visits, telephone calls, and email communications and are designed to support: • Team selection • Self-assessment completion • Goal setting, action plan development, fiscal planning • Data collection • Progress monitoring • Asking the “tough” questions • Alignment of work • Promoting networking & new training opportunities

  20. The HOW…… STEP 6 Attend Cross Site Meetings • To support their work, the schools formed a network and attended two to five cross site meetings to gain technical assistance and share information, successful practices, and processes

  21. The HOW…… STEP 7 Conduct an Evaluation Process • Conduct an evaluation process to monitor progress on selected goals, which was carried out by the site-selected Data Coordinator and guided by the external evaluator from the Wexford Institute

  22. STEP 7 - Conduct an Evaluation Process • Program Evaluation: Purpose • To tell the story of the Ohio Ready Schools • To measure progress toward specified site goals • To inform future sites of lessons learned • To provide information to the sponsors and funders • To build the capacity of sites to collect data on their progress • Program Evaluation: Process • Identification of a Data Coordinator by each site; • Site-specific Ready School information collected including school • profile; team composition; team meeting schedule; annual action plan; • and activity chart; • Pre- and Post Results of Ready School Self-assessments per site; • Customized quarterly online surveys; • Follow-up clarification conference calls after each survey at each site; • ･ Statewide ORS Principals’ Survey with additional questions for pilot principals; and • ･ Interviews of 3 to 5 key stakeholders at each site (End-of-Year 1) • Program Evaluation: Feedback • Interim Cross-site Report • Final Cross-site Report

  23. The HOW…… STEP 8 • Plan for Sustainability • Plan for sustainabilityonce initial funding ends • Emphasis is on philosophical change and reallocation of existing funds to sustain Ready School work beyond grant funding period

  24. The HOW…… STEP 9 Disseminate Information on Progress & Lessons Learned • Disseminated information on progress and lessons learned to the school’s staff, district personnel, other district schools, other Ohio ORS pilot sites during Network Meetings, and interested sites in Ohio through presentations at local and state conferences • In addition, presentations were given at national conferences such as the SMART-Start Conferences in North Carolina and national forums on Ready Schools such as the Linking Ready Kids to Ready Schools: Building Policy on State and Community Successes national forum in Washington, D.C.

  25. The WOW………! ……..Ready School - Menus of Ideas • Registration Practices • Complete in spring (rewards for registering early – t-shirts, door prizes, school supplies) • Include places on forms to list younger children – use to invite to activities – provide readiness materials • Find students early – provide early intervention • Summer Camp/programs for Pre –k students • Change registration form – to include place for younger children to be listed with DOB – use this to identify new students earlier – increase engagement early • Provide families with packet of activity ideas and a CD with songs and rhymes made by teachers and a local musician • Transition meeting for each new student • Home visits • Grade Level Transitions • Welcome packets/postcards/t-shirts • Special August events/ open house • Transition Day (everyone moves up a grade & spends the day including preschool/k) • Step Up Day (Pre-k – K transition day) • Publish a book (picture book) about your school – provide copies to daycares, preschools prior grade levels • I’m Going to Kindergarten DVD sent to each new family • T’was the Night Before KindergartenBook written by staff/building • Opening Day – parade with community organizations and parents • Have students in the grade above write books for the upcoming class “A day in the life of a • ____ grader”

  26. The WOW………! Lessons Learned Lesson 1 – Perceptions & Attitudes Matter Lesson 2 – Team Composition, Vision, & Leadership Matter Lesson 3 – Communication Matters Lesson 4 – Relationships Matter Lesson 5 – Creating Feasible Action Plans Matters Lesson 6 – Shared Leadership Matters Lesson 7 – Evaluation, Assessment & Data Matter Lesson 8 – Linkages to the Early Childhood Community Matter Lesson 9 – Structured Resources Matter Lesson 10 – Development of a Shared Vision Matters Lesson 11 – Systemic District Support Matters

  27. The WOW………! ….Additional Findings In the second year of the Ohio Ready School pilot, the 11 lessons learned in the initial year were verified. In addition, the second year sites identified 5 new lessons that might be helpful to other sites starting the program. The new lessons learned include: Lesson 12 – Sustainable Activities Lesson 13 – Broader Application of Ready School Philosophy Lesson 14 – Collaborative Professional Development Needed Lesson 15 – Advantages of Multiple ORS Sites in a District Lesson 16 – Local Coordinators

  28. The WOW………! Statewide Principal Survey Results: More than double the number of Ohio responding principals identified the term “ready school” as “a school ready for all learners” from the pre- to the post survey. The number of respondents who identified the term in line with the ORS philosophy increased from 33% to 71%.

  29. The WOW………! • Statewide Principal Survey Results: Identification of the most important components for schools to be “ready” showed consistency across the pre & post surveys. • The top selection on both pre- and post surveys was “Using assessment results for individual student progress and improving school performance” (pre 59.4%; post 49%). • “Strong leadership” tied for the top selection on the post survey. It moved up from the third position on the pre-survey. • The other two components in the top 4 slots on both the pre- and post surveys were “welcoming atmosphere” and “meaningful parental involvement”. • Three respondents who wrote responses under the “other” category noted that quality teachers were a major component.

  30. The WOW………! • Statewide Principal Survey Results: Identification of the components principals feel their school could improve upon. • Amazing consistency in the pre and post surveys when principals were asked to identify the components their schools could improve upon. • The top four components that were identified as needing to be improved were still among the top four components identified for improvement on the post survey.

  31. The WOW………! …… a noted impact on changing attitudes Ready School Principal Survey Results: 54.3% of the responding Ohio Ready School Principals indicated that district administrators changed their attitudes concerning their role in the transitioning of students.

  32. The WOW………! …. impact on initiating transition communications • Ready School Principal Survey Results: As a result of their Ready School pilot work: • 82.6% of Ohio Ready School principals reported that their school initiated communication about transition with parents. • 80.4% of Ohio Ready School principals indicated that their school initiated communications concerning transitioning with feeder preschools & community childcare providers.

  33. The WOW………! …… impact on relationships • Ready School Principal Survey Results: • 91.3% of responding Ohio Ready School principals indicated that Ready School work impacted their relationships with parents. • 73.9% of responding Ohio Ready School principals indicated that Ready School work impacted relationships among staff members and with feeder preschools & community childcare providers.

  34. The WOW………! …… impact on transition activities Ready School Principal Survey Results: 50% of the responding Ohio Ready School principals indicated that feeder pre-schools and community child care providers changed their transition activities as a result of participating in the Ready Schools’ pilot.

  35. The WOW………! .… changes in school practices & procedures

  36. Thank You! Teresa Anderson - Principal, Piqua City Schools andersont@piqua.org Sharon Dorsey - Project Evaluator, Wexford Institute sdorsey@columbus.rr.com Zana Vincent - Project Manager, Ohio Ready Schools zvincent@aol.com Jan Webler - Coordinator, Stark County Ready Schools weblerja@gmail.com Website to download an Ohio Ready School Resource Guide: http://www.ode.state.oh.us Search: Strong Beginnings, Smooth Transitions, Continuous Learning: A Ready School Resource Guide for Elementary School Leadership

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