Purpose

Garrett County Community Action Committee works in partnership with the Garrett County Board of Education to support teachers, children and families in achieving school readiness.

Description

Garrett County Community Action Committee (GCCAC) has built a partnership with the Garrett County Board of Education that integrates early childhood programs to assure school readiness.  Services are coordinated through the Overlook Judy Center Partnership and involve early childhood programs serving two elementary school districts. 

The Overlook Judy Center Partnership:

• Brings together the resources of schools and community agencies to assure children’s success in school
• Supports parents in their role as their “child’s first teacher” by providing workshops, parent-child activities, parent-learning opportunities, and access to a resource library and a computer lab through activities including:
  • Back to School Nights
  • Family Literacy Nights
  • Assemblies
  • Family Fun Festival
  • Ice Cream Socials
  • Information & Assistance
• Assists the kindergarten, pre-kindergarten, Head Start, Early Head Start and private early care and education teachers to provide quality education in accredited/validated classrooms through:
  • Classroom observations
  • Classroom supplies
  • Compilation of Work Sampling assessment data
  • Supports before and after child care services for children ages 6 weeks through 12 years.
• Provides ongoing staff development and training such as:
  • Mentoring of Head Start and private early child care and education teachers by public school teachers
  • Joint staff training conducted countywide for all Head Start, pre-K and kindergarten teachers
  • Teacher networking with training
• Links with two local elementary schools
• Operates full-day/full-year services
• Assists children and families in transitioning between early childhood programs
• Coordinates family support services and serves as the key contact for early childhood, pre-K and kindergarten families
• Uses the Maryland Model for School Readiness (MMSR) to assess the readiness of young children for school.  MMSR provides a variety of school readiness tools including:
  • Vision and Belief Statement
  • Definition of School Readiness
  • Maryland Model for School Readiness Fact Sheet
  • Framework and Standards
  • Five Components in Action are Classroom Instruction, Assessment, Communication with Families, Coordination with Early Education Programs and Initiatives, and Integrated Staff Development Activities
  • Assessment Guidelines Using 30 Work Sampling System Indicators
  • Online Resources including Tools and How-To Guides for Parents, Educators, and Community Teams and Key Links through the Ready at Five Partnership 

 Many national initiatives have been developed to strengthen and promote coordination of school readiness efforts.  Just a few examples include:

• Head Start School Readiness and Coordination Act
  • Education and Early Childhood Development on the Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center interactive web site established by the Office of Head Start
• Helping Your Child Prepare for School - booklet may be ordered through U.S. Department of Education
• NAEYC School Readiness Position Statement
• Preparing Your Child for School - NEA Brochure for Parents
• National Governor’s Association
  • School Readiness Overview
  • Building the Foundation for Bright Futures
  • Ready Schools
  • Ready Communities
  • Ready Families
  • Ready Children

Outcomes

Western Maryland County Focuses on Education to Attract Jobs published by the Annie E. Casey Foundation describes how OJC often serves as a portal to other GCCAC services, which dovetail with the Casey-developed Rural Family Economic Success (RuFES) framework, which has three broad outcomes – Earn it, Keep it, Grow it – designed to help families increase their income, stabilize their finances, and build assets and wealth.

The FY2009 Evaluation Report provides extensive information on the positive outcomes involving Overlook Judy Center children and families.  Various indicators reflecting improved school readiness among Overlook Judy Center Partnership children include:  

• 100% of Early Head Start children were “developing as expected” as measured by the OUNCE Scale at 24 months compared to a goal of 80%
• 98% of Overlook Judy Center children were “fully ready” on the Spring ’09 K WSS compared to a goal of 80%
• 90% of parents had a HS Diploma or GED by June 30, 2009 compared to a goal of 85%
• 92% of OJC children had satisfactory attendance in Kindergarten by June 30, 2009 compared to a goal of 94%
• 94% of OJC children had satisfactory attendance in First Grade by June 30, 2009 compared to a goal of 94%
• 91% of OJC children were not referred to Alternative Structure or suspended during the SY by June 30, 2009 compared to a goal of 95%