School Readiness
Goal: Increase access to school readiness programs and reduce the achievement gap before kindergarten.
Measure
There are multiple measures used in this area. These data fall into two categories: school district and countywide data. They include: 1) poverty rank in the state of school districts (total); 2) percentage of students (grades 1-5) living in poverty by school district; 3) percent of children age 4 in the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) by county; 4) percent of children ages 0 to 12 eligible for and receiving subsidized care; 5) percent children ages 0 to 4 receiving WIC; and 6) percent of children ages 0-5 in the Family Assistance Program (FAP).
Why This Indicator is Important
Parents are their children’s first and most important teachers. Conditions surrounding a child’s birth often reflect the forces that will shape a young person’s life. Indicators such as birth weight and gestation period often reflect health status at the time of birth. Since many of the conditions related to a birth are linked to later developmental problems, the data illuminates future prospects for children. Ensuring that children are prepared and ready to begin school is the ultimate predicator of their future success. Research indicates children who are not “school ready” when they begin school seldom catch up to their peers without a tremendous infusion of community resources.
Pre‐kindergarten educational experiences begin at birth and provide children with opportunities for developing language, social, cognitive, and gross motor skills. The indicators used to measure school readiness have a correlation to data that can predict school success, graduation rate, and healthy living.
Pre‐kindergarten educational experiences begin at birth and provide children with opportunities for developing language, social, cognitive, and gross motor skills. The indicators used to measure school readiness have a correlation to data that can predict school success, graduation rate, and healthy living.
How Are We Doing?
The
diversity of Saginaw County school districts is evident by the
percentage of students in grades 1-5 living in poverty in each school
district; from a low of 0 to a high of 93.6%. Most districts have
between 15-40% poverty rate, while four have 80% to 94%. While four
districts rank in the top 100 in poverty, the rest rank near the middle
to bottom.
The percentage of children in the GSRP has remained around 20% (with a high of 26.5% in 2008) about 4% higher than the state average in 2009. Saginaw County received $1.85 million in state funded GSRP in 2009.
The percentage of children ages 0-12 eligible and receiving subsidized care has declined about 4%. Although the number of children eligible for care has remained well above the Michigan average, the percentage receiving care is equal to the Michigan average.
The percent of children ages 0-4 receiving WIC has increased 10% since 2006. Although the average remains 20% above the Michigan average of 54%, yearly increases in Saginaw resemble Michigan’s.
The percent of children ages 0-4 in the FAP has also increased by 10% to 48% in Saginaw County, which has remained about 13% above the state average.
The percentage of children in the GSRP has remained around 20% (with a high of 26.5% in 2008) about 4% higher than the state average in 2009. Saginaw County received $1.85 million in state funded GSRP in 2009.
The percentage of children ages 0-12 eligible and receiving subsidized care has declined about 4%. Although the number of children eligible for care has remained well above the Michigan average, the percentage receiving care is equal to the Michigan average.
The percent of children ages 0-4 receiving WIC has increased 10% since 2006. Although the average remains 20% above the Michigan average of 54%, yearly increases in Saginaw resemble Michigan’s.
The percent of children ages 0-4 in the FAP has also increased by 10% to 48% in Saginaw County, which has remained about 13% above the state average.
How Can You Have An Impact?
- Model a positive attitude towards school.
- Have meaningful conversation with your children about the importance of education.
- Read with your child to help them develop literacy skills.
- Provide opportunities for your child to play with other children.
- Serve as a classroom or school-wide volunteer.
- Participate in Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) activities.
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