School Readiness

SETA Head Start is committed to ensuring all children are ready for school, families are ready to support their children’s learning, and schools are ready for children. Along with clear and strategic goals for children and highly qualified and diverse staff, SETA ensures children’s success by:

Individualization for Children

Each child receives an individualized educational program based on his/her strengths and needs. Each curriculum is evidenced-based and specifically designed to help children develop language and literacy, problem solving skills, and learn how to socialize and interact with others. Children are provided with the opportunity to participate in activities that support math, science, art, drama, language and culture. Children leave Head Start prepared for kindergarten, excited about learning, confident in their own abilities and ready to succeed.

Picture 004

Highly Qualified Staff

SETA is committed to employing classroom teachers that are highly qualified and demonstrate competencies in early care and education and child development. All Head Start Teachers have an associate’s degree or higher in Early Childhood Education or its equivalent. Staff represent diverse cultures and ethnicities, including more than 16 different languages.

Staff Development

Teaching staff receive monthly training to ensure on-going professional development of each staff. Staff participates in monthly group training sessions, as well as in individual staff development plans that support his/her own professional growth and educational goal attainment.

Coaching/Mentoring

Teachers are provided one-on-one and small group coaching and mentoring so that new training lessons are incorporated into daily routines and teaching. Through a consistent, systemic and guided approach, coaches present feedback in a supportive and non-judgmental manner that engages each teacher. Working together, the coach and the Teacher develop an individualized plan which results in enhanced classroom interactions and classroom environments.

Accountability/Data Results

Assessment data shows significant growth across all learning domains as measured on the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP). While Perceptual, Motor, Physical Development and Social/ Emotional development had the highest percentage of children in the top 2 levels of the DRDP, Cognition had the highest percentage of growth from Fall to Spring.

To support child outcomes, SETA has phased-in a systematic and intentional lesson planning guide that improves the fidelity of curriculum implementation at all locations.  This approach has allowed teachers to more efficiently see the alignment of the curriculum to the Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF) as well as state standards and has resulted in stronger fidelity.

IMG_3379

School Readiness Goals

The Head Start approach means children are ready for school, families are ready to support their children’s learning and schools are ready for children.

SETA developed expanded school readiness goals based on guidance provided in the School Readiness for All document developed by the National Center on Quality Teaching. There are 18 goals for all preschool aged children, plus an additional 2 goals for dual language learners. SETA Head Start School Readiness goals are representative of the domains of the Head Start Early Learning Framework and are also aligned to the California State Preschool Learning Foundations and the State Common Core Standards. These school readiness goals address children’s development in the following five domains:

  • Approaches to Learning (Initiative, Curiosity, Cooperation, Persistence, Attentiveness, Music and Movement, Art, Drama)
  • Cognition and General Knowledge ( Number Concepts & Relationships, Geometry, Measurement, Patterns, Scientific Skills, Knowledge of the Natural/Physical World, of Self, Family & Community, of History, and of People & the Environment)
  • Language and Literacy Development (Book Appreciation, Early Writing, Phonological Awareness, Print Concepts, Expressive Language, Receptive Language, Alphabet Knowledge, English Language Development)
  • Social/Emotional Development (Positive Social Relationships, Self-Concept & Efficacy, Self-Regulation, Emotional & Behavioral Health)
  • Physical & Health Development (Gross Motor Skills, Fine Motor Skills, Health Knowledge & Practice)

Click here to download the Head Start School Readiness Goals.