Pre-K

Success Stories

At-Risk Four-Year-Olds Are Target of Attention

Joyce Levey and Wanda Fisher, Tuscaloosa City Schools, Alabama

Story posted March, 2008
Story updated February, 2011

Results:

The program is popular and each year more parents apply their children.
It likely reduces the number of students referred to special education.
The program acclimates at-risk children to the school environment, fosters development, provides health attention and two balanced meals per day, and allows students to safely socialize with peers.

Tuscaloosa, Ala.--Tuscaloosa City Schools and community organizations have joined efforts to provide pre-kindergarten education to help at-risk children get off to a quick start when they begin school. Tuscaloosa was named the Alabama winner in the 2008 National Civic Star Award competition as a result of the program, and the program continues to thrive. ...

Pre-Kindergarten Program is Increasing Readiness

Lisa Ray, Harrison County Public Schools, West Virginia

Story posted March, 2008

Results:
• 94% of students (including 23% with special needs) showed cognitive gains from ages 3 to 5, as measured by the Creative Curriculum Development Continuum

Harrison County Schools in Clarksburg, W.Va., was named the state's winner in the 2008 National Civic Star Award competition for its pre-kindergarten program, a collaborative effort designed to better prepare all the district's children for kindergarten.

The partnership includes the school district, Head Start, local child-care facilities and parents. Parents apply for their child's placement in their home school, at a child-care center or through Head Start. Children ages 3-5 with special needs are evaluated and placed in the program based on special education eligibility.

The goal is to prepare four-year-olds for success in kindergarten and to lay the foundation for life-long learning. ...

Living and Learning with Mobile Devices

A new report by LFA and Grunwald Associates, with support from AT&T, examines how parents perceive the value of mobile devices, how they see their children using mobiles, and what they think of the possibilities for mobile learning.

Controlling the Message

ASCA Executive Director Kwok-Sze Wong suggests actions that all educators can take to start regaining control of the public discourse around public education.

Supporting Language Acquisition in ESLs

Dr. Stewart is the winner of PDK International's 2013 Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award for her work on Latino/a immigrant students and literacy. Learn more about her research on how social media supports English language acquisition.

Resources: Common Core State Standards

LFA member organizations are working hard to ensure the successful implementation of Common Core. Check out this compilation of their numerous resources for educators, principals, administrators and parents.

School Safety

Children should be safe at school, but sometimes - as with the recent school shooting in Newtown, CT - the unthinkable happens. Here are resources to help schools & communities prepare for, act during, & recover after a school crisis.

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