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All Wethersfield Children Birth to 8 are Developmentally Successful Learners and 2 more... less...

Community Snapshot

Community Snapshot

Percent of Wethersfield Kindergarteners who Attended Preschool, Nursery School, or Head Start

Current Value

75.9%

2021

Definition

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Summary

Wethersfield had seen a steady erosion in the number of children attending preschool in our community from 2006 - 2013.  From 2013-2018 there was an improvement in the numbers of children attending preschool, however the trend is downward in 2019.  2019 data shows that overall, 78.2% of students entering kindergarten had attended some preschool experience.  

School 2006 Preschool Attendance Rate 2013 Preschool Attendance Rate 2018 Preschool Attendance Rate 2019 Preschool Attendance Rate
Alfred Hanmer 88% 79% 84% 82%
Charles Wright 87% 71% 74% 67%
Emerson Williams 100% 73% 83% 74%
Highcrest 96% 81% 87% 87%
Webb 89% 74% 74% 74%

The twelve year average of preschool attendance for our schools and community is presented below. When the State Department of Education was providing state-wide preschool data (until 2012), the average preschool attendance in the state of CT was around 80%.  If we use that as a benchmark and compare it to our Wethersfield schools' 12 year average, all but one of our Wethersfield schools score above the state average. Scorecard links for each school will be listed below.

Why Is This Important?

A quality preschool experience for children ages 3-5 significantly influences their preparation for kindergarten in Wethersfield. Preschool is an opportunity for young children to build basic literacy skills. By third grade, children who haven't mastered basic reading skills perform poorly in reading and continue to do so in high school (Report on National Early Literacy Panel). Furthermore, children who haven't developed basic literacy practices when they enter school are three to four times more likely to drop out in later years (National Adult Literacy Survey).

Additionally, social skills learned in preschool prepare a child to be ready to learn. The earlier children learn the habits of successful students such as the ability to listen to peers and adults, raising your hand, waiting your turn, keeping your hands to yourself, and following rules and directions, the more likely they are to have long term academic success. The larger the percentage of children entering our kindergartens without these skill in place, the greater the likelihood that the progress of the entire group will be impeded.

Finally, preschool is an opportunity for early interventions for children with developmental and learning issues. When early gaps are not identified or addressed, they may lead to academic and social difficulties in later years. There is a real financial cost associated with the types of special services and programs that would need to be provided as a result. It's estimated that for every dollar spent on early childhood services, six dollars is saved in future years on cost for remedial intervention services. For further discussion of the potential for unidentified developmental and learning issues among Wethersfield children, please see WECC's scorecard "Woman Receiving Non-Adequate Prenatal Care in Wethersfield" at http://scorecard.clearimpact.com/Indicator/Embed/22985

In 2017 to address the concern over children not attending preschool prior to entering kindergarten, WECC introduced a program called "Successful Transition to Kindergarten".  This program is run with the support of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and the Wethersfield Public Schools.  It is a free, 8 day (2 hours per day) program meant to introduce children and their parents/caregivers to school and give them a brief preschool experience.  Children stay in a classroom with Wethersfield kindergarten teachers and parents meet as a group to interact with school staff and learn different aspects of the Wethersfield Public Schools.  A total of 24 students have been serviced by this program (12 in 2017 and 12 in 2018).

School by School Scorecards. Please note, no commentary has been added:

Hanmer Preschool Scorecard: http://scorecard.clearimpact.com/Indicator/Embed/31032

Charles Wright Preschool Scorecard: http://scorecard.clearimpact.com/Indicator/Embed/31...

Emerson Preschool Scorecard: http://scorecard.clearimpact.com/Indicator/Embed/31034

Highcrest Preschool Scorecard: http://scorecard.clearimpact.com/Indicator/Embed/31035

Webb Preschool Scorecard: http://scorecard.clearimpact.com/Indicator/Embed/31036

 

Story Behind the Curve

While the data for the past 5 years shows a fairly steady number of students who are and are not attending preschool, the trend over the last 10 years has been an increase in the numbers not attending preschool.  Furthermore, despite efforts to raise awareness of the issue, stress the importance of preschool, offer scholarships to attend preschool and offer summer programs for those who do not attend, the trend does not seem to be improving.  WECC has heard significant feedback that cost is a barrier to families whose children are not attending preschool.  Families are looking for full day preschool at free or reduced rates.  Families are also looking for employment.  WECC is working with the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and state partners on a new 2Gen Initiatve.  It is our hope that by helping parents gain employment and increased financial stability, we can increase the number of Wethersfield children attending preschool. 

What Works

In order to make a difference in the level of early learning readiness, we need to first understand some effective, research-based approaches; below are some best practices:

Universal Preschool: Universal preschool is a quality preschool experience available and accessible to all children. There is overwhelming evidence that investment in high-quality early learning opportunities for children birth to age five yields enormous benefits through significant future savings (National Institute of Early Education Research).  The State of Connecticut has expanded support for public preschool centers through their Smart Start initiative. Wethersfield is eligible to apply for this program and is currently studying its feasibility.

Family Resource Centers (FRCs): Depending on the community, FRCs offer a wide range of services that typically include full-day, year-round early care and education/ school readiness programs; school-age child care; youth development programs; referral services; parent education; and support/training for family day-care providers.  In addition, FRCs provide a unique opportunity for families of diverse cultures and backgrounds to share and learn from each other.  A Family Resource Center in Wethersfield could play a role in connecting families with quality preschools and help overcome roadblocks to readiness such as cost and transportation issues.

Partners

  • Wethersfield Board of Education
  • Town of Wethersfield
  • Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
  • Town of Wethersfield Department of Youth and Social Services
  • State of Connecticut/Office of Early Childhood
  • Wethersfield Mayor's Charity Ball

Brainstorms

WECC is currently pursuing the possibility of applying for a School Readiness grant which, if received, would offer the availablity of free or low cost preschool to qualifying Wethersfield families.

WECC is grateful to the Wethersfield Mayor's Charity Ball for donating a total of $22,000 to help local Wethersfield families pay for preschool.

 

Related Links

CT School Readiness https://www.ct.gov/oec/cwp/view.asp?a=4541&q=539376

CT Family Resource Centers https://portal.ct.gov/SDE/FRC/Family-Resource-Centers

CT Smart Start https://www.ct.gov/oec/cwp/view.asp?a=4547&q=550948

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