Chester Early Childhood AcademyDr. Lisa High, Chief of Schools

October 27, 2020 * Presented to the School Board1

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● Student Needs● Funding● Proposal● Services● Timeline

Overview

—Gari Stein

“Children are born musicians, dancers, artists,

and storytellers and the opportunities for healthy development are endless.

We just have to provide the canvas, the paper, the paints,

the materials and the welcoming environment,

setting the stage for creativity, learning, and fun.”

● There is an unmet demand for pre-kindergarten services in Chesterfield County.

● Identifying a service location will free up operational space within existing schools for anticipated kindergarten growth.

From the Virginia Department of Education: “High-quality preschool programs provide a foundation for learning

and prepare students for success in kindergarten and beyond. School-readiness activities in high-quality preschools focus on physical,

motor and social and emotional development.”

Meeting Student Needs

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Current capacity● CCPS currently serves 987 pre-kindergarten students.● CCPS pre-kindergarten enrollment has increased by 46 percent

over a five-year period.

Needed capacity● CCPS is unable to serve all of the eligible students because

of lack of space in schools. (Head Start, VPI, Title I)

Student population

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State funding● CCPS currently spends approximately $8.6 million in state/grant

funding on pre-kindergarten services.

Funding available from the state● CCPS currently does not take advantage of all available state

funding to support pre-kindergarten services.● There is an associated local match required.

Potential savings● Possible removal of some trailers at elementary school sites.

Funding & Missed Opportunities

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Per the Virginia Department of Education:● School readiness means preparing all children for kindergarten by supporting

birth to age-five programming. ● Virginia’s focus includes key classroom practices including the use of

high-quality curriculum and assessment, teacher-child interactions and individualized professional development as well as strengthening family engagement.

● Ready children are prepared socially, personally, physically and intellectually to meet literacy, math, science, history and developmental standards for 4-year-olds described in Virginia's Foundation Blocks for Early Learning.

School Readiness

7From http://www.doe.virginia.gov/early-childhood/school-readiness/index.shtml

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Optimizing Elementary Facilities● Providing services to PK students in a single location frees up

classroom space in nearby elementary schools.● In some cases, making space available in elementary schools

better balances enrollment and capacity without the need to redistrict / adjust boundary lines and disrupt family lives.

● The opportunity now exists to serve additional students with available capacity at the Chester Early Childhood Academy.

Dollars and Sense

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Retrofit former Harrowgate Elementary School site into a new Early Childhood Learning Academy

● Potential for program expansion● Which students would we will serve?● How we will serve them?● Timeline for opening

Proposed Solution

Departments are collaborating on the development of a potential new Early Childhood Learning Academy in Chester

Departmental Collaboration

Team No. 1: Operations and Finance

● Budget and Finance● Construction● Food and Nutrition Services● Maintenance and Facilities● Planning● Transportation

Team No. 2: Instruction and Programming

● Leadership● Preschool (Headstart, ECSE)● Special Education● Student Support Services● Teaching and Learning● Title I

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Which students will be served

● Bellwood● Beulah● Curtis● Ecoff● Enon● Gates

● Harrowgate● Marguerite Christian● Salem Church● Scott● Wells

Enrollment PotentialUp to 479 students onsite, depending on programs offered;

3- and 4-year-old children served

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Target: Focused on areas of highest need / demand in the Dale and Bermuda districts

How will students be served

● Pre-K students within the identified attendance zone will have

access to school division transportation.

● If additional slots are available, students outside of the

attendance zone can access the Early Childhood Academy;

however, families will not have access to school division

transportation.13

Provide a safe, stimulating, and developmentally appropriate learning environment in conjunction with a quality educational curriculum that assists the child’s social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth.

How will students be served

● School times:○ Before-care program: 7 - 9:25 a.m.○ School day: 9:25 a.m. - 3:55 p.m.○ After-care program: 3:55 - 6 p.m.

● Max class size ○ Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE): 8 students○ Head Start, VPI, Title: 18 students

● Curriculum standards○ Virginia's Foundation Blocks for Early Learning 14

Early Childhood Program Requirements

Head Start● 100% or below poverty guidelines● Homeless/TANF/SSI● Up to 15% can be between 101-130% of

poverty guidelines● At least 10% (20 students) with disabilities● Must be 4 by Sept. 30

CAP: 196 across 11 sites

ECSE● Must be found eligible for special education

services● Must turn 3 years old by Sept. 30 for

school-based services

CAP: 8 per classroom

Title I● Must reside in Title 1 school zone● Needs to have some risk factors as indicated

on score sheet● Students served in order of need ● Must be 4 years old by Sept. 30

CAP: 126 across 7 sites

VPI● Between 100-200% of poverty guidelines,

or between 200-350% with disability● Homelessness● Parents were school dropouts● Local criteria for up to 15% of slots● Must be 4 years old by Sept. 30

CAP: 360 for FY2021

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● Oct. 27, 2020: School Board work session

● Nov. 10, 2020: Proposed School Board approval

○ If approved, hire a director / principal during November / December

● November 2020 - March 2021: Operations and Instructional departments work collaboratively to retrofit the old Harrowgate Elementary to become the Chester Early Childhood Academy

● April 2021

○ Open house for Pre-k enrollment for the 2021-22 school year

Timeline

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● Student Needs● Funding● Proposal● Services● Timeline

Overview

Chester Early Childhood AcademyDr. Lisa High, Chief of Schools

October 27, 2020 * Presented to the School Board18