Transcript RESTRUCTURING SCHOOLS (PK-3 SUBCOMMITTEE) R JEN BRENNER MAIDA COTE TRICIA CUNDARI RONNIE DOUGHERTY LAUREN FILIPEK DEBORAH FREEMAN JULIE HOWSON DONNA JAWOROWICZ JANAINA LASOTA RANDEE MANDELBAUM.

RESTRUCTURING SCHOOLS
(PK-3 SUBCOMMITTEE)
R
JEN BRENNER
MAIDA COTE
TRICIA CUNDARI
RONNIE DOUGHERTY
LAUREN FILIPEK
DEBORAH FREEMAN
JULIE HOWSON
DONNA JAWOROWICZ
JANAINA LASOTA
RANDEE MANDELBAUM
AND …….
ERIN MARX
LORETTA MILLER
MICHELLE MIRABELLO
LIZ O'CONNELL
RHONDA PALATIELLO
MEGHAN REISTROM
MARIA SCANNIELLO
RACHEL LEIBNER
HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND
• Five-Year Preschool Plan approved in
2008
• Funding never followed
• Freehold Borough adopted “Tools of the
Mind” Curriculum
• Full-day Preschool Program was
implemented in 2008
HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND
• Preschool program cut back to half-day
in 2011 due to lack of funding
• Waiting list existed when full-day
program was operational
• No waiting list for half-day program
• We are reaching less 3 & 4 year olds
• Our universe is close to 300 students
ACHIEVEMENT GAP
• Academic achievement gap begins before
students enroll in Kindergarten
• Need other ways to replace lack of full-day
preschool for our universe
• District cannot continue to wait for full
preschool funding
• Other programs can be implemented to close the
achievement gap during early childhood
STRATEGIC
PLANNING
• Early Childhood Subcommittee
• Input from teachers and parents
• Visits to school districts
• New Common Core Standards
• No re-teaching
• Develop criteria for Developmental Kindergarten
& Transitional First Grade programs
DEVELOPMENTAL KINDERGARTEN
“SPRINGBOARD TO SUCCESS”
OR “STARTING BEHIND – STAYING BEHIND”
• Provides additional time to develop:
• Fine motor skills
• Cognitive skills
• Social skills
• Build background knowledge
• Build vocabulary
Transitional kindergarten gives a tremendous opportunity to
increase kindergarten readiness by laying the foundation for
reading proficiency and better preparing our students to be
successful.
DEVELOPMENTAL KINDERGARTEN –
WHO ATTENDS?
 Students with no preschool
experience
 Students who lack the skills
necessary to be successful in the
academic expectations of the
kindergarten curriculum.
 Students who lack the social and
emotional maturity needed to be
successful in kindergarten.
TRANSITIONAL FIRST
GRADE (T-1)
 This program is intended to target
students who have completed a
kindergarten program, but based on a
variety of data, would benefit from an
additional year of language
development/literacy instruction and
academic skill building prior to entering
first grade.
 Upon completion of T-1, students will be
placed into a first grade classroom
THE PROCESS
• Formed a committee composed of
teachers, administrators and parents
• T-1 was the major focus of our committee
• Visited schools with T-1classes
• Developed a criteria and survey for
teachers
THE PLAN
• Teachers will (did) identify students using
the criteria survey
• Informational meeting for parents(held)
• Professional opportunities for curriculum
development for teachers over the
summer
• Teacher was hired.
PROGRESS UPDATE
• Developed criteria and survey
• Met with Kindergarten and First Grade Staff
• Survey will be distributed to Kindergarten teachers after
recess
• A committee of Kindergarten teacher , Grade 1 teacher,
Principal and District Administrator will evaluate data and
portfolio of each T1 candidate and make final
recommendations
• Letter will be sent to parents/guardians
• An information night will be held