Preschool Literacy Preschool Literacy ProgramsPrograms

Preschool Literacy Preschool Literacy ProgramsPrograms

Innovation in North CarolinaInnovation in North CarolinaKathryn Baars, Section 619 CoordinatorKathryn Baars, Section 619 Coordinator

kbaars@dpi.state.nc.uskbaars@dpi.state.nc.us

Into Literacy

Getting Started• School Year 2000-2001• Used state administration funds under 619

for local LEA contracts– Part of SIG but no money

• Sent out Expression of Interest to Develop an Early Literacy Training Site– Asked about current efforts– Collaboration with IHE’s– LEA support for outreach

Model Demonstration Sites

Program Responsibilities of the 6 Chosen LEAs

• To coordinate a comprehensive early literacy program based upon current research

• To demonstrate techniques and teaching skills in a literacy rich environment

• To provide a source for in-serving training to schools and community partners

• To establish a plan that emphasizes “parents are the child’s first teacher”, and

• To provide a setting that institutions of higher ed. can use as a demonstration site for pre-service training

Administrative Responsibilities

• Meet twice a year and attend a summer institute

• Update website yearly (SIG site)• Evaluate program effectiveness• Be available for presentations• Complete 2 progress reports• Have a pre and post ELLCO done on

demonstration classrooms

Choosing LEAs with Quality Preschool

Programs

Chosen Sites• One LEA in each region of the state (6

regions) received approximately $40,000 to begin to develop a model site

• LEAs could only use inclusive classrooms• One LEA was the state-wide site and received

additional dollars to hire staff• Most LEA’s had contracts with

colleges/universities• Some LEAs used funds to bring in

professionals for regional training

Successes• Classrooms ordered great materials• Several LEAs produced products such as CD’s

and documents on literacy• Some LEAs gave mini-grants to other LEAs in

their region• Some really great classrooms developed• ELLCO scores went up from the fall to the

spring• Satellite programs developed as great

classrooms were identified• SIG contributed dollars to fund sites

Great Literacy Activities

Frustrations• Model site classroom teachers left• Some sites never got to model status• Some sites did not collaborate with

colleges/universities• Some sites did a poor job of outreach• State not an endless source of money!!

Adaptations

• Contracted with a literacy expert who developed an early childhood literacy assessment

• Had to keep finding new classrooms as teachers left

• Gradual reduction of funds• Data management instead of paper and pencil

evals• Did away with state-wide center due to staff

changes

Future Directions• Combining with our state-wide “More at Four

Programs”• Reconfiguring the model sites based upon

high quality classrooms• Further developing common philosophies and

having a uniform packet for on-site visitation• Trying to get model sites to become more

self-sufficient and less dependent on additional state funding

Key to Success: Quality Teaching!