PK-Grade 3 is an aligned and coordinated approach to education for children throughout early childhood often framed as three to eight years. The coordination calls for teachers to gain skills in recognizing individual differences to enable children to study on levels appropriate to their needs.
The Recovery School District early childhood classrooms support opportunities for students’ optimal development of cognitive, social, emotional, language, literacy, numeracy and motor skills through developmentally appropriate learning experiences and a nurturing environment.
Current Programs and Services:
RSD Cecil J. Picard LA4 Pre-Kindergarten Program provides 720 four-year-old children in full-day pre-kindergarten classes with quality early learning opportunities. One of the most promising methods to close the gap is increasing access to high quality pre-kindergarten experiences. Children must be 4 years old by September 30, 2009. Proof of residency, child’s birth certificate, Social Security card and immunization record must be presented at time of registration. The Early Children Department coordinates Pre-Kindergarten instruction, materials, assessment and professional development. RSD Kindergarten Program serves approximately 950 children in full-day kindergarten classes providing quality early learning opportunities. Children must be 5 years old by September 30, 2009. The Early Children Department coordinates Kindergarten instruction, materials, assessment and professional development. Inclusive Programs for 3-Year-Old Preschoolers with Disabilities - One of the early childhood program’s strengths is inclusive education. All children are included in our District LA4 classes. The RSD has partnered with Head Start to provide a 3-year-old classroom setting for students with special needs and their typical peers. Gregory Elementary offers two Head Start 3 year old classes. Early Childhood Coalition under the direction of Intervention Services and the Early Childhood Department is a collaboration of local and state agencies which work with young children. This coalition seeks to bring agencies’ services for all young children in the area together. Members meet to address issues such as quality childcare initiatives, family involvement, and provision of appropriate health services. Ensuring Literacy for All Grant is a PK-4 Louisiana Department of Education reading grant initiative at Julian Leadership Academy, Johnson Elementary, and Reed Elementary.
Early Reading First Grant is a Federal grant promoting literacy development in Pre-K. It is a collaborative partnership with the University of New Orleans at Reed Elementary. PK-Grade 3 Instruction The Early Childhood Department’s goal is to help all RSD students become independent readers and writers by providing diagnostic instruction (through the use of data) and scientifically-based literacy programs and by building the capacity of teachers and administrators through literacy and mathematics. Additionally, Mathematics standards and Grade-Level-Expectations are also supported through the Early Childhood Department. The Early Childhood Department systematically coordinates and monitors assessment programs Pk-3 (test administration/materials, training, monitoring implementation and data results
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Creative Curriculum & ECERS-R – PK and Kindergarten
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Basal Reading Series- Harcourt Trophies
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Reading Intervention – Voyager Passport
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Scott Foresman – Addison Wesley Mathematics
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Great Source- Every Day Counts® Calendar Math
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Science – Harcourt and FOSS
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Social Studies – Harcourt Horizons
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Reading Interventionists
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DIBELS Reading Benchmark Assessment
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Voyager Passport Reading Progress monitoring
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District Reading Interventionists
Start Smart NOLA (includes 0-3 cradle to the classroom) The Recovery School District (RSD) in collaboration with the Louisiana Children’s Museum (LCM), Communities in Schools (CIS), Early Childhood Supports and Services (ECSS), Fatherhood Program and Head Start to create : -
a comprehensive series of programs that address the physical, cognitive (literacy-related) and social-emotional (mental health) needs of school aged parents and their children
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a program that began at Reed High School in 2007-08
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a program that eventually will go to full scale in all schools
The Smart Start NOLA Program will assist our teen parents, until the teen graduates, to create a safe and nurturing home for their child. Safe Schools/Healthy Students Grant- project entitled PARK: Protecting At-Risk Kids. Park is designed to meet the needs of at-risk youth, families at targeted schools. RSD and Partner Agencies will collaborate to achieve the following goals: 1.) Increase student safety by reducing violence, 2.) Enhance protective factors that increase student resistance to use drugs, 3.) Provide a continuum of mental health services. Parents as Teachers is a new initiative developing in the Recovery School District in collaboration with the RSD Office of School Management and the Department of Social Services. It is a family support program designed to enhance child development and school achievement through parent education accessible to all families. Coordinated School Health and Metropolitan Behavioral Health Services is a new partnership in two Recovery School District schools. The Early Childhood Department is part of the coordinated school health team. Pilot program is at Edgar Harney Elementary School and Walter L. Cohen High School.