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#THREAD In December, I visited Polk County elementary schools to dive deeper into the pre-K program @Mebane_Rash profiled. The district reaches 75-85% of 4-year-olds annually, & administrators told me pre-K had become a community expectation. #nced #ece https://www.ednc.org/polk-county-nc-pre-k-separate-how-small-rural-district-unites-two-different-worlds/
Yet pre-K access is only part of the story. I was reminded of research by @mhlittle312 & others on the misalignment of #earlychildhood & K-12 across NC. In Polk, pre-K has been fully integrated into students' and families' experiences. That's unique. https://www.ednc.org/polk-county-nc-pre-k-separate-how-small-rural-district-unites-two-different-worlds/
How has this small, rural district smoothed those divides? Pre-K teachers told me it has a lot to do w leadership. @AaronGreenePolk had to learn about play, about #earlychildhood development, about social/emotional skills, & "let(s) them do their thing." https://www.ednc.org/polk-county-nc-pre-k-separate-how-small-rural-district-unites-two-different-worlds/
"It doesn't happen overnight," said Kathy Harding, Polk's pre-K & health director. Consistent collaboration between pre-K & elementary teachers helps both understand the differing approaches & standards & support kids' needs, @rdill_ said. https://www.ednc.org/polk-county-nc-pre-k-separate-how-small-rural-district-unites-two-different-worlds/
Polk also has a unique history, starting its journey to provide pre-K in the mid 90s, when local philanthropist Margaret Forbes donated a building next to an elementary school to the district for preschool. Read more in @Mebane_Rash's piece: https://www.ednc.org/early-childhood-education-crucial-student-success/
The district is also both the NC Pre-K contractor & Head Start grantee, which is pretty rare. Harding told me the control over those funds allows the district to blend them in the way it does: https://www.ednc.org/polk-county-nc-pre-k-separate-how-small-rural-district-unites-two-different-worlds/
The program provides family engagement services for children, no matter what funding stream is used to fund the slot. Those relationships formed in preschool last, when personnel help parents “become advocates for their children & for their families.” https://www.ednc.org/polk-county-nc-pre-k-separate-how-small-rural-district-unites-two-different-worlds/
There are no other #childcare providers in the county & leaders said families need infant/toddler care. @AaronGreenePolk said there are no plans to start earlier but "If you could get in those doors..you’re going to solve a lot of the problems downstream." https://www.ednc.org/polk-county-nc-pre-k-separate-how-small-rural-district-unites-two-different-worlds/
"If they love coming to preschool, their first experience, they’re going to like going to the big school," said pre-K teacher Jessica McEntyre. Teachers said pre-K sets the foundation for school (academics, confidence, motivation, ability to work w others). https://www.ednc.org/polk-county-nc-pre-k-separate-how-small-rural-district-unites-two-different-worlds/
What would universal pre-K mean for North Carolina? @AaronGreenePolk says it would be a game-changer. "Every child needs, deserves & will benefit from this opportunity." #ece #nced https://www.ednc.org/polk-county-nc-pre-k-separate-how-small-rural-district-unites-two-different-worlds/
Partnerships matter, Greene says, esp in complex local #ece landscapes. "At the end of the day, we want to make sure that every child enters our schools prepared to be successful & to do that we all have to be on the same page, or at least communicating.."
