Early learning
More than 30 percent of metro Atlanta students do not complete high school in four years. Well respected studies show that young children who have quality child care are 26 percent more likely to graduate from high school and 60 percent less likely to be arrested as a juvenile. One study has found that every dollar invested in early learning saves $17 in future remedial education, welfare and prison costs. An educated workforce is a key factor in maintaining a vibrant economy and providing a higher standard of living for more of our residents.
Each child in our community interacts with many more people than just her parents. Child care providers, family members and church members all have a stake in helping children grow up to be productive citizens.
Developing a community blueprint
The Early Learning Commission is modeled after the Regional Commission on Homelessness, which United Way developed in 2002 at the request of Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. Dorothy Yates Kirkley, partner at Kirkley & Hawker, LLC. is chairing the Early Learning Commission, with co-chairs Robert L. Brown of R L Brown Associates and Phil Jacobs of BellSouth Communications.
The Early Learning Commission is made up of community leaders, and will work with input from experts, professionals and parents to create a multi-year plan—a blueprint—to ensure children are ready succeed when they begin school.
Read the Dorothy Yates Kirkley Commission report
(pdf)
Resources
Ready child equation summary (pdf)
LAP model (pdf)
Local data on early learning factors:
General summary (pdf)
Butts county (pdf)
Cherokee county (pdf)
Clayton county (pdf)
Cobb county (pdf)
Coweta county (pdf)
DeKalb county (pdf)
Douglas county (pdf)
Fayette county (pdf)
Fulton county (pdf)
Gwinnett county (pdf)
Henry county (pdf)
Paulding county (pdf)
Rockdale county (pdf)
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The Ready Equation
By following the national model of early learning called The Ready Equation, we are developing a multi-year action plan to ensure the children in our community are ready to start kindergarten.
Ready families + ready communities + ready services + ready schools = children ready for school
Strategies and best practices for addressing the issues surrounding the four areas for The Ready Equation will be created by residents and subject experts, who form work groups. Groups meet on each topic twice. For the first, people from nearby counties will gather, discussing localized strategies. During the second meeting, people from each of the three localized meetings will meet together, building consensus about the major issues, concerns, and opportunities for each topic in the Ready Children equation.
Those recommendations then go to a commission of 20-25 community, business and children's issues leaders who will work together to create the blueprint, which is an action plan for using the Ready Equation to ensure the children in our community are ready for school. By including the vital input from parents, teachers, community members and service providers, the work groups will help to ensure the blueprint is of, and for, the community. Additionally, focus groups of parents, potential funding sources and legislators will provide insight into the final version of the blueprint.
One of the blueprint action items will employ the Leadership in Action Program (LAP), which is a leadership development and community problem-solving program of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. A group of community members will use the LAP model to identify solutions for one of the more complex, involved items of the Early Learning Blueprint. Download an overview of the LAP model.
If you have questions, or would like more information, please call 404.527.8837.
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