PREK4WARD IS A FREE DIRECT SERVICE PROGRAM FOR 4 YEAR OLDS
The first early childhood program is the South MS PreK4Ward; generated by the Gulf Coast Business Council’s (GCBC) Master Class, in collaboration with a committee in Gulfport. This initiative is working to establish free, quality preschools for four-year-olds living on the Coast. Launched in 2010 out of a discussion of issues affecting education on the Coast, this early childhood programming has seen 100% of the children in the program making significant growth in school readiness skills.
PreK4Ward is led by a project director with an education background and is sustained by private funds from foundations, corporations, and individuals. Classes are conducted by a certified teacher and her assistant for twenty (20) four-year-olds ready to learn. The Creative Curriculum model serves as the basis for instruction with integration of the MS Early Learning Standards for 4-year-olds correlated with the Core Curriculum Standards.
I chose this organization because it is working forward to establish free and quality care for preschoolers age 4
HEADSTART IS A FEDERAL INCOME-BASED PROGRAM
When President Lyndon Johnson declared a “War on Poverty” in 1963 he established a program that would offer 3 and 4 year olds living in impoverid homes, free child care while their parents went to work. Today, the program had changed very little until its recent re-authorization of the Act.
Families whose income is 200% of the poverty rate or less ($22,000 for 4 qualify) for Head Start programs for their children. The program serves mostly 3 and 4 year olds, but also has a component for younger children who face significant challenges due to poverty. The program is funded with federal dollars that have been passed to local organizations that applied to receive funding. These centers also offer breakfast and lunch to their children and require little from parents, though parent programs are offered.
Recently, the original responsibilities assigned to the Head Start program were revised and re-authorized in Washington. Head Start was required to have their classroom teachers certified to teach and all assistants must hold a two year degree in a pertinent field.
I chose this organization because it promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of low-income children through the provision of health, educational, nutritional, social and other services that are determined to be necessary.
EXCEL BY 6 IS A COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAM
This program relies on support from community agencies, education entities, parents, and child care centers. Excel by 5 supports communities working to establish activities for young children and their families that will lead them to being a certified Excel by 5 communities. Community assessments, public forums, surveys of resources, integration with existing programs and sustainability are key components of the initiative. I has four major components-Community involvement; Family and Parent Support; Early Care & Education (which does provide direct training to early education in centers; Health and Safety. It ask communities to look, as they more through the cetification process, at family support elements that a community already provides while outlining the needs that still exist. The vision of Excel by 5 to support families with children age 0-5 by encouraging community based collaboration to draw upon research based best practice to use and enhance existing resources to optimize the care and education of young children by preparing them to enter school happy, healthy, and with skills they need to succeed.
I chose this organization because it focuses on a community of children. It emphasizes the important roles parents and early childhood educators play in the lives of children during the most informative year's birth to 5.
Job Opportunities
Teacher I - possesses at least a job-related bachelor’s degree or a bachelor’s degree and a substantial amount of content-related coursework; has primary responsibility for classroom operation including planning, carrying out activities, maintaining the classroom environment, supervising children; conducts parent/teacher conferences; supervises classroom volunteers; may also supervise teacher assistant.
Qualifications
Graduate from high school or equivalency (GED) and a current preschool, center-based Child
Development Associate Credential (CDA); or an associate, baccalaureate, or advanced degree in early childhood education; or an associate, baccalaureate, or advanced degree in a field related to early childhood education with preschool teaching experience.
Must be able to do the following:
Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
Establish and maintain effective, working relationships with children, parents, staff, and program specialists.
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