PRESCHOOL

Program Overview:

Parents will be able to easily identify Home Run certified preschools which have programming that meets or exceeds Universal Preschool for West Sacramento (UP4WS) educational standards.

How it works:

The City of West Sacramento works with trained Early Learning Specialists to improve the quality of instruction, training of teaching staff and provide access to resources that can improve classroom environments and materials. Early Learning Specialists then rate preschools and certify those who meet and / or exceed quality standards.

Home Run certified high-quality preschools have met or exceeded quality standards in the following areas:

• Child Observation: Home Run Certified Preschools offer evidence-based assessments / observation tools that offer information about each child’s development to guide curriculum planning
• Development and health screenings: Home Run Certified Preschools ensures children are screened to support appropriate growth and development. Results are used to refer families to appropriate agencies for further assessment if needed
• Teacher Qualifications: Home Run Certified Preschools supports ongoing professional learning and staff education
• Effective teacher-child interactions / CLASS assessments: Home Run Certified Preschools promote high-quality teacher-child interactions and developmentally appropriate teaching and learning experiences
• Program Environment Rating Scales: Home Run Certified Preschools offer safe and age-appropriate indoor and outdoor learning environments for all children

Why this strategy:

Participation and completion of high quality preschool can have a tremendous impact in the life of a child. High quality preschool attendance and completion has been shown to have a reduce grade retention (getting held back a grade) and increase high school graduation rates.

COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNT

Program Overview:

Kindergarteners enrolled in the Washington Unified School District who have attended one of the certified high quality early learning preschools will receive a $50 seed deposit in their new city-sponsored college savings account.

How it works:

Launching in Fall of 2018

Why this strategy:

65 percent of U.S. jobs will require some form of postsecondary education by 2020. Completing some form education past high school is necessary for success in any career field, particularly for the high demand, high wage and high growth positions in West Sacramento. Children with college savings between $1 – $499 are three times more likely to attend college than their peers without savings and four times more likely to graduate.