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…