AISD Early Childhood Initiatives presentation — original pdf

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Foundations First: Austin ISD Early Learning Initiative Presentation to the City of Austin Early Childhood Council March 12, 2025 Heather E. Petruzzini The Foundations First: Early Learning District Initiative positions Austin ISD as a leader in early childhood education by ensuring equitable, high-quality, developmentally appropriate learning experiencesfor children from birth to grade 2. This initiative addres s es enrollment challenges, expands early childhood programs, and prioritizes foundational literacy, numeracy, and social/emotional developmentto clos e achievement gaps and prepare s tudents for long-term academic s ucces s . Long Term Success Post Secondary Outcomes 9 - 12 Outcomes 6 - 8 Outcomes 3 - 5 Outcomes Foundations First: Early Learning Initiative Thriving in K -2: Academic & Socio - Emotional Outcomes Pre-K Expansion & Kinder Ready Outcomes Simple & Seamless Enrollment HQ Birth - 3 Programming 3 When we prioritize in early childhood education by ensuring equitable, high-quality developmentally appropriate learning experiences for children from birth to grade 2, Aus tin ISD s tudents will be prepared to learn in 3rd grade and beyond, leading to long term pos itive outcomes that contribute to each individuals long term s ucces s . Foundations First: Early Learning Initiative K-2 Academic Outcomes Pre-K Expansion & Kinder Ready Outcomes Simple & Seamless Enrollment Birth - 3 Programming 44 Simple & Seamless Enrollment Goal: 100% of families feel satisfied with an enrollment experience that fostered trust and transparency (seamless & simple) ● Ease of enrollment ● Once enrolled in an associated/partner Childcare program, students can easily enroll in Austin ISD ● Recruitment from 0 -3 ○ Come and Stay awhile - or 15ish years or so . . . ● Continued priority for qualifying students ○ TEC §29.153 (b) ● Additional tuition seats are available. ○ Spring 2025 - Early Bird Tuition 5 Birth - 3 Programming Goal: Establish a high-quality 0-3 year childcare program that strengthens community trust in Austin ISD, actively engages families in their child's developmental milestones, and provides a strong foundation for future learning success. ● NAEYC Certified ○ Developmentally appropriate GVC ● Partnership with Travis County to offer high -quality programming for 0 - 3 ● High-quality and well supported teachers in all childcare settings 6 Pre-K Expansion Goal: Early Childhood Education in Austin ISD becomes a national model for providing students strong foundational skills in an equitable way that helps students become engaged and curious learners A national exemplar for PK learning experience ● Possibility of PK experiences being NAEYC Certified ● Programming ○ Including purposeful and guided play ○ Kinder ready ■ Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment at PK support students in acquiring developmentally appropriate foundational skills ○ High-quality experiences for EB, ECSE ● Project Apple Blossom ○ Request to Travis County to start Pre -K3 & Childcare partnership for SY 25-26 7 Thriving in K -2 Academic Goal: All students will leave 2nd grade ready with the necessary foundational skills in numeracy and literacy to learn and be critical thinkers and creative problem-solvers in 3rd grade and beyond. ● 3rd grade ready ● All students performing on grade level by the end of 2nd grade ○ 90% of students performing on grade level by the end of 1st grade ○ 80% of students performing on grade level by the end of Kinder ● Tiered supports to decrease the predictability of who succeeds and who fails 8 Why does the Early Learning Initiative matter? Closing Opportunity & Achievement Gaps ❏ Ensuring historically underserved communities have access to high-quality early learning opportunities. Improving School Readiness ❏ Establishing strong foundational skills in literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional learning from the start. Supporting Workforce Development ❏ Quality early childhood education leads to long -term economic benefits for families and the community. Building Family & Community Trust ❏ Providing a more accessible, transparent, and supportive early childhood education system in Austin ISD. 9 How the Early Childhood Council Can Support this Work? Policy & Advocacy ❏ Advocate for policies that align city and district efforts, particularly in expanding affordable, high -quality early childhood programs. Community Engagement ❏ Help increase awareness and participation among families, ensuring they understand and access these improved early learning opportunities. Collaboration with Childcare Providers ❏ Strengthen connections between city -supported early childhood programs and Austin ISD to create a seamless learning pathway. 10 Questions? 11