School Readiness
Description
First 5 Contra Costa has implemented the School Readiness Initiative for several years with funding from First 5 California to help children enter kindergarten fully prepared to learn. State First 5 funding is winding down, therefore First 5 Contra Costa has shifted most of our school readiness efforts to the Preschool Makes a Difference scholarship program, which serves low-income children in Antioch, Bay Point, Concord, Pittsburg, San Pablo, and Richmond.
School readiness programs will still take place this year in West Contra Costa and Mt. Diablo School Districts. Mt. Diablo will receive First 5 Contra Costa funding to continue running three successful family literacy preschools for children whose parents are attending English Language Learner classes, and West Contra Costa will receive support to raise the quality of its state preschools in order to participate in the Preschool Makes a Difference program.
Results
- Children who attend family literacy preschools showed significant improvements in school readiness skills, with the greatest improvement for those who partcipate for longer periods of time. Low-income children participating in these preschools were three times more likely than their peers to enter kindergarten completely ready to learn.
- Children who attended schools that included school readiness transition activites such as kindergarten orientation showed greater school readiness skills. Since 2004, more parents are reporting they participated in transition activities or received information from the school on helping their child get ready for kindergarten.
2009-10 Allocation
$136,500
Contractors
- Mt. Diablo Unified School District and Mt. Diablo Adult School
- West Contra Costa Unified School District
Community Served
Bay Point, Concord, Richmond, and San Pablo
More Information
Read more about the School Readiness Initiative:http://ccfc.ca.gov/ SchoolReady.htm
For more information, please contact Debi Silverman:
(925) 771-7333.
To enroll in family literacy preschools in Mt. Diablo, please contact Mt. Diablo Adult Education (925) 685-7340.
