Name of Grant Program: Quality Full-Day Kindergarten Fund Code: 701
PART III-B – REQUIRED PROGRAM INFORMATION – FY15
FOR DISTRICTS THAT RECEIVED THE FY14 FUND CODE 702 TRANSITION TO FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN
GRANT (AND DID NOT RECEIVE THE FY14 FUND CODE 701 QUALITY FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN GRANT)
ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN FY14 AND IMPLEMENTATION PLANS FOR FY15
Answer the questions below related to the grant priorities, providing detailed information about the full-day kindergarten
(FDK) program that was supported in fiscal year 2013-2014 (FY14) by the Transition to FDK (Fund Code 702 ). Districts should include information on activities conducted in FY14 as well as plans for FY15.
I. CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
1. Progress in FY14 a. Describe efforts to recruit all required members of the Early Childhood/Early Elementary Curriculum (EC/EEC)
Committee and its activities thus far. b. Describe activities to develop a FDK curriculum and a full-day schedule. If a tentative schedule has been developed, please attach a copy. c. Please list and briefly describe any specific curriculum and/or curriculum materials that have been purchased.
2. Plans for FY15 a. How will the district work with public school preschools, community-based preschools, Head Start, and family child care providers to support children in all domains of development, and to introduce and implement the
Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for all content areas? Describe opportunities for joint professional development related to curriculum and assessments based on these new Frameworks. b. What are the projected tasks and initiatives of the EC/EEC Committee and/or the district to address curriculum integration across all content areas and continuity of curriculum form preschool through third grade? c. Describe how the curriculum and instruction will align with the College and Career Readiness goals for both academic and non academic learning? d. List EC/EEC Committee member names, positions, and school/programs. Indicate if it is a joint committee with
School Readiness.
II. QUALITY AND NAEYC ACCREDITATION
1. Progress in FY14 a. Describe activities and/or progress made familiarizing staff with accreditation criteria and processes, and describe barriers to accreditation that have been discussed or are anticipated. b. Describe plans or activities to support other quality enhancements.
2. Plans for FY15 a. Describe the distri ct’s goals related to accreditation. If the district has developed a staggered implementation plan for accreditation, please describe the plan. Include details on how many buildings will be involved each year. b. Discuss other plans that the district has to address the quality of its FDK programs, such as class size, ratios, and professional development.
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Name of Grant Program: Quality Full-Day Kindergarten Fund Code: 701
III. SUPPORTING/IMPROVING INCLUSION AND EDUCATION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS
1. Progress in FY14 a. Describe actions taken to ensure supports are provided and accommodations are made to successfully include children with disabilities in the general education FDK classroom. b. Discuss anticipated needs and challenges encountered or that may occur in the next school year in serving English language learners in the FDK classrooms.
2. Plans for FY15 a. Describe the district’s projected plans to address challenges and improve inclusion of students with disabilities in
FDK classrooms. b. Describe projected plans to address challenges and to improve instruction for English language learners (if applicable).
IV. ASSESSMENT
1. Progress in FY14 a. Describe efforts to identify the needs for and progress on selecting/preparing for authentic, research-based assessment in the FDK classrooms.
2. Plans for FY15 a. Describe plans for professional development related to assessment practices in kindergarten, including but not limited to topics such as implementing developmentally appropriate early childhood assessment practices, analyzing assessment data, using data to inform instruction and/or using data to guide program quality improvement. Note: FY14 702 grant districts will be required to participate in the Massachusetts
Kindergarten Entry Assessment (MKEA) initiative in FY16 and related professional development will begin in the spring of 2015.
V. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
1. Progress in FY14 a. Describe content areas/topics and attendance at professional development activities (workshops, college courses, mentoring programs) offered to kindergarten staff, paraprofessionals, and others related to the transition to FDK. b. Indicate the number of teachers, instructional aides, and other staff who participated.
2. Plans for FY15 a. Are there topics that the district would be interested in hearing/learning about on FY15 webinars and/or at regional kindergarten networking sessions? Please describe. b. Describe the impact of teacher evaluation systems on professional development for Kindergarten teachers in the
2014-2015 school year.
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Name of Grant Program: Quality Full-Day Kindergarten Fund Code: 701
VI. ENHANCING TRANSITIONS INTO AND FROM KINDERGARTEN
1. Progress in FY14 a. Describe activities that the district implemented to support children and families in the transition to FDK. b. Describe activities the district implemented to include community-based preschool providers, Head Start and public school and community-based after-school and out-of-school time providers in the transition to FDK.
2. Plans for FY15 a. Describe partners in the transition process for all children and the role they play regarding transitions [e.g., School
Readiness Committee, School Committee, local Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) council,
Early Intervention, or community-based early education programs].
VII. SCHOOL READINESS COMMITTEE
1. Progress in FY14 a. Describe progress in recruiting required and other members of the School Readiness Committee and its activities so far, including its role in developing and/or overseeing this grant. Also describe collaboration thus far between the
School Readiness Committee, the EC/EE Curriculum Committee, and the CFCE Council. b. If school readiness issues have been identified in the community (preschool through first grade), please describe them and how the information was gathered.
2. Plans for FY15 a. What ongoing or new initiatives will occur to address school readiness in the community? b. Describe any plans the district has to work with its local Head Start program during the FY15 school year in the following areas:
1. curriculum, instruction, and assessment
2. opportunities for joint professional development
3. communication and parent outreach to support smooth transitions into kindergarten c. List School Readiness Committee member names and positions.
VIII. FAMILY ENGAGEMENT
1. Progress in FY14 a. Describe communication with families about the FDK program. Attach a copy of information that may have been provided to families about FDK registration and tuition policies. b. Describe efforts to meet the needs of families from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. c. Describe barriers that families may experience in accessing placements in the FDK classrooms and plans to address these barriers.
2. Plans for FY15 a. Discuss proposed new activities, policies, etc. for engaging families in the kindergarten program. b. If the community receives a Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) grant from the Department of
Early Education and Care, please describe how the district coordinate s Quality FDK grant’s family engagement initiatives with the CFCE initiatives.
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Name of Grant Program: Quality Full-Day Kindergarten Fund Code: 701
IX. SUPPORT FOR LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION OF DEPARTMENT DISTRICT STANDARDS AND INDICATORS
1. Plans for FY15
Please indicate (with an X or check mark) which of the following District Standards and Indicators and
Department Priorities will be deliberately and intentionally supported through the proposed budget in this grant application: a. District Standards and Indicators:
Leadership and governance
Focused school committee governance
Effective district and school leadership
District and school improvement planning
Educationally sound budget development
Effective district systems of support for school support and intervention
Curriculum and instruction
Aligned, consistently delivered, and continuously improving curriculum
Strong instructional leadership and effective instruction
Sufficient instructional time
Assessment
Data collection and dissemination
Data-based decision making
Student assessment
Human resources and professional development
Staff recruitment, selection, and assignment
Supervision and evaluation
Professional development
Student support
Academic support
Access and equity
Educational continuity and student participation
Services and partnerships to support learning
Safety
Financial and asset management
Comprehensive and transparent budget process
Adequate budget
Financial tracking, forecasting, controls, and audits
Cost-effective resource management
Capital planning and facility maintenance
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Name of Grant Program: Quality Full-Day Kindergarten Fund Code: 701
IX. SUPPORT FOR LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION OF DEPARTMENT DISTRICT STANDARDS AND INDICATORS
(continued) b. Department Priorities:
Prepare students for college and careers
Strengthen curriculum and instruction
Strengthen educator effectiveness
Support data use to improve policy decisions and student
Turn around our lowest performing schools
OPTIONAL: Please comment on the above boxes selected if there is more detail you want to add beyond what is already described in other responses in the application.
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