The Great Start Readiness Program GSRP Joan Firestone

The Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) Joan Firestone, Director Early Childhood Oakland Schools Joan. Firestone@oakland. k 12. mi. us

History and Purpose � GSRP is Michigan’s state funded preschool program for four-year-old children with factors which might put them at risk for school failure. � Started in 1986 and now serves about 60, 000 Michigan children yearly � GSRP funding is allocated yearly in the school aid bill. � Till recently, MDE controlled program and funded districts and competitive programs

Recent changes to GSRP � State now funds ISDs to run GSRP in their county � ISDs must follow state guidelines � ISDs must allocate 30% slots to licensed child care centers that follows state guidelines ◦ Must be rated at least 3 stars on GSTQ ◦ Must follow approved process ◦ Separation of church and state � ISD is responsible for ensuring that local programs meet state guidelines

GSRP funding � Each school day child will be funded at $7106 (5% administrative) � Program is only funded for as many children as actually serve � Currently, children only need to attend program for a short time (Nov-Feb) to be funded � Only reimbursed for actual program expenses � Must follow MDE approved guidelines and submit budget to ISD for approval � Children may never be charged for anything � May start spending as of July 1 of school year

Recruitment and Enrollment � May accept children from throughout Oakland County � Enrollment of children ◦ All children need to be age eligible-year before kindergarten ◦ Eligibility and priority based primarily on income �Children up to 250% poverty currently eligible � 10% of children may be between 250 -350% poverty ◦ ◦ Also need to determine presence of risk factors Interview families to determine risk factors Documentation of the risk factors is necessary Must follow protocols established by ISD

Risk Factors � Low income is primary factor in enrollment—lowest income children enrolled first � Diagnosed disability or identified developmental delay � Severe or challenging behavior � Primary home language other than English � Parent(s) with low educational attainment � Abuse/neglect of parent or child

Risk Factors (cont. ) � Environmental Risk ◦ Parental loss due to death, divorce, incarceration, military service or absence ◦ Teen parent (not yet 20 when first child was born) ◦ Family is homeless or without stable housing (includes living with relatives or in foreclosure) ◦ Residence in a high risk neighborhood (high poverty, high crime, few services) ◦ Pre or postnatal exposure to toxic substances known to cause learning or developmental delays

Prioritization � If income under 100% poverty, send to Head Start (unless parent preference) � First accept children with incomes between 101 -150% poverty � Then children with incomes between 151 -200% poverty � Finally accept children with incomes between 201 -250% poverty � 10% of children you enroll can be between 250 -350% poverty if have other risk factors

Parent Involvement Requirements � Parents should have regular opportunities to learn, volunteer and share expertise � Advisory committee ◦ Meets at least twice a year � Two home visits ◦ Last at least an hour each ◦ Alternate site if parent prefers � Two parent-teacher visits ◦ Last at each 45 minutes each � We can help if parents refuse

Center Based Model � Classroom runs at least 7 hours per day, 4 days per week for at least 30 weeks � Class size of 2 adults to 16 children. Second adult needed with 9 th child. Need coverage for breaks, vacations, illness etc. � Lead teacher must have valid teaching certificate with early childhood (ZA or ZS) endorsement or BA/BS in early childhood with preschool focus. � Associate teacher must have valid CDA or AA in early childhood. If can’t find, can hire someone with one class and willingness to get credentials within two years.

Center Based Model � Consistent daily routine based on child centered, active learning with a minimum of one hour choice time � No child may be dis-enrolled for challenging behavior. We must be involved. � Requirements include philosophy statement, comprehensive programming, written policies and procedures � Transportation and extra care allowed (and encouraged) but not mandated

Center Based Model (cont. ) � Must use approved curriculum—High. Scope (others with approval only) � Must do developmental screening with Ages and Stages at beginning of year � Must do ongoing observational child assessment using online COR (Child Observation Record) Advantage.

Program Evaluation and Improvement � Overseen by Early Childhood Specialist (ECS) ◦ MA in early childhood and other qualifications ◦ Contracted from Oakland Schools � Program Quality Assessment administered 3 times yearly by ECS � ECS meets with teachers, administrator to develop and monitor goals � Onsite program monitoring every three years � Several yearly reports for ISD � Much support available from OS

Financial Requirements �A maximum of 25% of your revenues may be generated by the GSRP grant. � GSRP revenues and expenditures must be separately accounted for in accounting records � Monthly financial statements will be submitted to receive funding. Budget, year to date expenditures and remaining budget for each line item needs to be included. Also need to submit general ledger support for expenses. � Quarterly analysis of financial records by CPA

Will I Get Slots? � We can only give slots for children residing in Oakland County at this point ◦ Currently can request slots from other counties � In 14 -15 we filled 5, 222 Oakland slots. This number is guaranteed in Round 2 funding. � We claimed a need for 5, 797 slots for 15 -16 that is used for Round 3 funding � We asked for 6, 597 slots for 15 -16 based on using slots per school day child for Round 4 funding.

Distribution Plan � Programs offering GSRP in 14 -15 will get slots filled in that year if did good job. � Programs offering GSRP in 14 -15 will get slots planned for that year if wish and deserve � Programs offering GSRP in 14 -15 will be offered limited opportunities to expand (part day to full day, pilot programs etc. ) � We will then seek to expand programs in underserved areas.

District - number of children eligible 82 56 95 61 Pontiac-336 100 Madison-53 63 31 Clawson-55 85 8 Royal Oak-105 71 29 Oxford-97 0 Southfield-327 80 Berkley-100 69 0 Brandon-118 49 39 44 37 Farmington-197 0 Clarkston-151 17 30 24 21 Holly-185 33 TOTALS-4651 31 Hazel Park-224 52 49 61 Lake Orion-157 25 0 Walled Lake-324 60 Ferndale-110 4 Rochester-157 32 0 Waterford-564 49 41 46 46 20 West Bloomfield-131 0 Oak Park-205 0 Lamphere-178 27 0 South Lyon-109 20 0 Birmingham-35 36 18 13 Bloomfield-39 27 25 0 Avondale-119 40 Troy-160 9 Novi-45 0 Huron Valley-251 20 Clarenceville-119 Percent Served Percent of Eligible Four-Year-Old Children Served % in District Funded Programs 160 140 63 120 0 0 12 106 71 33 0

Distribution Plan � Priority areas— ◦ Area with less than 60% of eligible children served and Pontiac is priority 1 ◦ Area with less than 75% of eligible children served is priority 2 ◦ Area serving more than 75% eligible children served is priority 3 � Within priority areas ◦ Qualified community based program has priority ◦ However programs will be evaluated on such factors as proximity of programs to existing sites and areas of highest need in community, provision of services that families need (Extra hours, transportation etc. )

Distribution Plan � New programs will get one school day classroom. Any other request is not likely to be approved. � Application from programs for slots for 15 -16 is due electronically by end of day Monday, April 27. Letter of Intent due Friday, April 17. � Site visits for qualified programs will be held during May. � By June 1 sites will receive a prioritization for slots for 15 -16 year � Programs will hear within one week of our notification from MDE number of slots they will receive for 15 -16 (generally by mid July)

Application � Both letter of intent (due Friday, April 17) and application (due Monday, April 27) are required. � All required information must be included in the application � Questions must be answered, assurances signed and financial information provided. � There is a grievance process for programs that do not receive slots

Your Best Resources � GSRP website www. michigan. gov/gsrp ◦ Implementation Manual ◦ Standards of Quality for Programs for Pre-kindergartners ◦ Many other important things � Oakland Schools website www. oakland. k 12. mi. us/gsrp � Oakland Schools staff ◦ Administrative—Joan Firestone joan. firestone@oakland. k 12. mi. us ◦ Administrative—Tammy Arakelian ◦ tammy. arakelian@oakland. k 12. mi. us ◦ Program Quality—Chris Boisvert Maier chris. maier@oakland. k 12. mi. us ◦ Program Quality—Krista Shambleau ◦ krista. shambleau@oakland. k 12. mi. us These materials were developed under a grant awarded by the Michigan Department of Education.