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Building Collaborative Relationships

Building Collaborative Relationships. Supporting Early Childhood Education Programs. Our Program History. Blue Valley Community Action Partnership Jefferson County Head Start Program Fairbury Public Schools Step-by-Step Program (Early Childhood Special Education/Peer Model Program)

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Building Collaborative Relationships

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  1. Building Collaborative Relationships Supporting Early Childhood Education Programs

  2. Our Program History • Blue Valley Community Action Partnership • Jefferson County Head Start Program • Fairbury Public Schools • Step-by-Step Program (Early Childhood Special Education/Peer Model Program) • Initial Collaborative Efforts • Dual Program Enrollment • Consultation, Referral and Evaluation

  3. Identified Challenges/Barriers • Wait Lists • Significant increase in number of children eligible for Head Start • Child Find efforts resulting in increased number of children with verified disabilities • Consistent demand for Peer Model participation • Significant percentage of children entering Kindergarten without having quality early childhood education experiences (Achievement Gap)

  4. Forming Our Partnership • Nebraska Early Childhood Grant Program • Existing personnel to provide early learning opportunities in 4 half-day sessions • Grant Award to provide for 2 additional half-day sessions • Between 75 to 85 children (ages 3 to 5) provided early learning opportunities annually • Identified program personnel provide special education services for Birth to 3 population within natural environments • Enrollment reflects community demographics

  5. step ahead early childhood program Our Partnership…

  6. Lessons from the Field • Defining Partnership Roles and Responsibilities • Collaborative Participation • program planning; start-up process; implementation • Early Childhood Advisory Committee • Parent Involvement ~ Leadership Team • Developing and Maintaining Written Agreements • issue of trust; changes in leadership/staffing

  7. Potential Partnerships • Head Start/Early Head Start/Even Start Grantee • Local School District • Educational Service Unit • Private/Parochial Preschool Program • Center-based/In-home Childcare Provider • City Government/Department ~ Public Library • Health Care Agency/Organization • Community Organization/Service Club • Church ~ YMCA ~ Museum

  8. Collaboration & Program Design • Structure • program days; yearly calendar; part/full day • Classroom Ratios • Facilities • fire/safety/health codes; space; equipment; playground

  9. Collaboration & Program Design • Staffing • Rule 11/Highly Qualified/Endorsements • Recruitment/Hiring • Supervision/Evaluation • Substitutes • Custodial Services • Transportation • Head Start ~ School District • Parent/Carpool ~ Community

  10. Collaboration & Program Design • Curriculum Framework Identification • Child Assessment and Program Evaluation • Professional Development Planning • Correlation & Alignment of… • Rule 11 Requirements • Head Start Program Standards • Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines

  11. Collaboration & Program Design • Budget Considerations • Blended/Matching Funding Sources • “In Kind” • NCLB, ILCD and School Improvement Process Involvement • Effective Transitions for Children • Birth to Three ~ Center-based Program • Early Childhood Program ~ Kindergarten

  12. Danger Zone • Community Perceptions (Patrons & School Board) • Competition vs Partnership • Program Development/Expansion during “Hard Times” • Quality of Existing Programs/Personnel • Staff Perceptions • Salary Differential ~ Hourly vs Salaried Positions • Preconceived Opinions ~ Practices & Requirements • Primary/Elementary Teacher Awareness and Support • Inclusiveness and Collegiality

  13. Lessons from the Field COMMUNICATION IS CRITICAL

  14. Early Returns on Our Investments • Inclusive, integrated programs/services for diverse groups of children; • Ongoing collaboration and communication with multiple community partners; • Highly qualified staff with demonstrated commitment to program development; • Significant and effective early childhood transitions; • Increased family involvement and capacity to support their children’s development; • Documented improvement/progress toward identified child learning and developmental outcomes.

  15. Final Thought… A high-quality program, no matter what its name or style is proud of the youngness of its children. It is geared to honest, real-life children – the noisy, messy, active, dirty kind. - James Hymes

  16. Our Contact Information • Jeremy Christiansen Principal/Director of Curriculum & Learning Fairbury Public Schools jerchris@fairburyjeffs.org (402) 729-2418 • Shari Wurtz-Miller Children and Youth Services Director Blue Valley Community Action Partnership smiller@bvca.net (402) 729-2278

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