Smart Start
Smart Start, the early learning division of United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta has joined forces with a coalition of early childhood advocates and professionals to implement four Early Reading First (ERF) grants throughout metropolitan Atlanta: DREAM, READERS, LIGHT and APPLE. The programs focus on low-income, preschool children with risks for reading difficulties, transforming our existing, good programs into programs of excellence. Over 80% of youth in our program areas qualify for free or reduced lunch, far exceeding the state average of 50%. To date, more than 1700 children in Dekalb, Fulton, and Cobb counties have been served.

The key indicator of a child's later success in school is their ability to read. The goal of ERF is to enhance the early language, literacy, and pre-reading development of young children, particularly those from low income families, through strategies and professional development that are grounded in Scientifically-Based Reading Research (SBRR) and family literacy.

The goal of our ERF programs is to increase teachers, assistants, administrators, and coaches knowledge and use of SBRR. A professional development plan was developed to systematically address early literacy skills essential to future reading success. To date, ERF professionals have received more than 2,500 hours of professional development delivered through seminars, field trips to model classrooms, study groups, in classroom- coaching, summer institute and local and national conferences.

The success of ERF programs can be measured by the quality of the classroom environment, child outcomes that assess the main skills predictive of reading success, and the professional development opportunities provided to classroom teachers, as well as the classroom environment and child outcomes. The use of valid assessment instruments is also a key component of ERF programs. This data allows us to gauge the progress of ERF children in obtaining the necessary skills to become successful readers and to show gains during program implementation.

Aspects of the projects include:

  • Implementing Opening the World of Learning (OWL), which is a 
    comprehensive, integrated curriculum.

  • Enhancing classroom learning environments.

  • Providing teachers with new ways to help children improve their language.

  • Providing coaching and early literacy training for teachers to help them
    fully integrate literacy throughout their classrooms.

  • Engaging families in their child's early reading experiences to reinforce these
    skills at home.  

Exciting new EEC Highlights: 

Early Education Commission Final Recommendations

Atlanta Leaders Announce New Early Education Initiative
 
• Dennis Lockhart, president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, and co-chair of the Early Education Commission, recently presented a speech on February 16th, 2010 to the Atlanta Kiwanas Club stating, "One early sign of success of the Early Education Commission will be when people start saying 'Pre-K through 12' rather than 'K through 12'..."  Please click on link below to view write up of this speech by Maria Saporta from the Atlanta Business Chronicle entitled: "Civic Leaders Working to Improve Early Ed"

• Dennis Lockhart also presented a speech at the Telluride Economic Summit on early childhood investment. Please click on the following link to view this speech entitled: "Early Childhood Education, Economic Development, and the Business Community"
    
• Additionally, from AJC.com, "Recent opinion pieces in The Atlanta Journal Constitution  have focused on how educational improvements can lead to a highly skilled workforce, which has significant implications for the long-term viability of the Atlanta metro region." Please click on the following link to view the most recent EEC op-ed piece in the AJC by Dennis Lockhart & Beverly Tatum entitled: "Atlanta Poised to Lead Early Learning"

Additional SMART START Highlights:

For upcoming events celebrating Month of the Young Child (MOYC), please click the following link to view the 2010 Georgia MOYC Calendar: 2010 GA MOYC Calendar Events.pdf

Parent Services Project Turns 30!
2010 marks our 30th anniversary—30 years of promoting family engagement and leadership in early childhood, schools and communities across the country.

We began in 1980 with a simple belief: families are the constant for their child in an ever-changing world. And so, we asked, how can we create strong networks of support for all families? We knew it was critical to reach families in places they naturally congregate early childhood programs and schools. That notion was the spark that got us started, and thus began our journey. Thirty years later, amazing things have happened, and our work is more relevant than ever!
Read more

Parent Services Project Spring 2010 E-Newsletter

Smart Start Open House
The Smart Start staff would like to thank everyone whom joined us for our Smart Start Open House event where a good time was had by all!  Lot’s of food, lot’s of networking, & most of all, lot’s of fun seeing grown folks playing in our state of the art Model Classroom donated by School Specialty Early Childhood (Childcraft).