A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

Achieving the Goals: Goal 1--All Children in America Will Start School Ready to Learn

U.S. Department of Defense

1994 marked the fourth year of the involvement of the Department of Defense (DoD) in the National Education Goals, and specifically, to improve the quality of education and early childhood programs provided to children of service members both overseas and in the continental United States. To support this effort DoD has addressed "Readiness for School" through the joint activities of the agencies within the office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense which include; the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) and the Office of Family Policy, Support and Services. Through these agencies, DoD has initiated a variety of programs designed to support instruction, student achievement, community involvement, and preschool services.

Sure Start

The Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) is committed to establishing and expanding a program for preschool children modeled on Head Start. Entitled "Sure Start", this program is jointly operated by DoDDS and DoD Child Development Services (CDS) and has as its primary goal the delivery of a preschool program which will have a positive impact on the child's physical health, cognitive ability, achievement, and educational motivation. Sure Start classrooms have opened at 29 sites throughout the DoDDS system and approximately 500 3-4 year old children are now enrolled.

Mr. Harv Gerry
Acting Chief, Education Division
Department of Defense
4040 North Fairfax Drive
Arlington, Virginia 22203

(703) 686-4490, ext. 155

Families and Schools Together (FAST)

The Families and Schools Together (FAST) project was developed to provide parents an opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to facilitate their children's learning in the home. The program design focuses on encouraging active parental participation and cooperation with the schools and other parents in developing competencies to motivate students to value learning as an integral part of their daily lives and to assist parents in establishing study habits and learning rituals in the home. As a result of their participation in this program, parents acquire skills enabling them to help their children, other parents thereby creating a community resource that will reinforce parental participation in academic achievement. The project is composed of four learning modules for parents which include:

Establishing and maintaining home learning rituals
Monitoring educational progress
Providing at home learning assistance
Encouraging Student motivation

Mr. Harv Gerry
Acting Chief, Education Division
Department of Defense
4040 North Fairfax Drive
Arlington, Virginia 22203

(703) 686-4490, ext. 155

The James E. Biggs Early Childhood Center -- Covington, KY

The Biggs Center provides a prekindergarten program, family support services, and a home visitation strategy. It came into being through a creative school district/community agency partnership via funding provided in Kentucky's Educational Reform Act of 1990 (KERA) for preschool and family support services.

Organization

The Biggs Center is a partnership between Children, Inc., a nonprofit child care agency and the Covington School District. Children, Inc., recruits, hires, trains, and supervises a staff of 15; monitors the curriculum; implements parenting activities; and conducts program evaluations. The school district made a major investment in the facility and contributes maintenance, transportation, and administrative services to the project.

Funding

Funds come from state department of education preschool program, Special Education, Chapter 1, Family Resource and Youth Service Centers. The school district contributed $1.8 million to purchase, renovate, and equip the facility and playground space. Mini-grants from the business sector and state agencies cover special enrichment activities.

Services for Children

The preschool program operates two half-day sessions, Monday through Thursday, and accommodates its 262 children in classrooms of 20. Fifteen children with special needs participate in the program, with support from a specialist and seven assistant teachers. On Fridays, teachers and assistant teachers conduct home visits. Through Chapter 1 funds, 3-year-old children are visited twice a month at home by a teacher and teaching aid who combine elements of High/Scope and the Parents as Teachers curricula.

Preschool Children with Disabilities

In school year 1993-94 the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) implemented preschools for children with disabilities (PSCDs) for children aged 3 through 5. There are now 80 preschool classroom serving over 965 students. Children in these programs meet DoDDS eligibility criteria which include a delay in one or more of the following developmental areas: Communication, Cognitive, Physical, Adaptive/Self-Help, Social/Emotional.

Children in PSCDs are served in center-based, home-based or combination programs with medically related services such as occupational and physical therapy provided by the Military medical departments. They may also receive their special education services in local child development centers, Sure Start classes or in regular kindergarten programs. Teachers and administrators are encouraged to involve parents in many ways, to include training parents in child development and in specific strategies related to their child's delay(s).

Dr. Rebecca Posante
Instructional Systems Specialist
Special Education
4040 North Fairfax Drive
Arlington, Virginia 22203

(703) 696-4386, ext. 147

Immunization Program

The DoDDS immunization requirements are based on the policies of the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee of the Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services and on requirements promulgated by the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs). DoDDS policy regarding immunizations is to provide screening to new entrants and to monitor the total immunization screening program through student registration. While immunization is a requirement for admission/attendance in DoD schools, the military services, not the schools, are responsible for administering immunizations. Prior to enrollment, dependent children are required to have the following immunizations: polio, measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR); diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DPT). Diphtheria and tetanus immunizations are required every 10 years. Pertussis is not required after six years of age. A second dose of the measles vaccine is required for children entering kindergarten or school for the first time. It is DoDDS policy that all children, no matter their age or grade level, will show evidence that they have received the second dose of MMR upon entry into a DoDDS school.

Mr. Harv Gerry
Acting Chief, Education Division
Department of Defense
4040 North Fairfax Drive
Arlington, Virginia 22203

(703) 686-4490, ext. 155

Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DoD DDESS):

Pursuant to the "Individuals With Disabilities Education Act" as amended, (IDEA), DoD DDESS has implemented preschools for children with disabilities (ages 3-5) on all the 16 military installations that host DoD DDESS. Approximately 454 preschool children with disabilities are now being served by this program. Additionally, DoD DDESS has implemented preschool programs for non-disabled students on 10 of these installations. Over 1,600 students are currently participating in this program.

Programs that stress parental involvement in child development activities are currently ongoing throughout DoD DDESS. A wide variety of parent education guides and publications have been developed and distributed throughout the community to promote and enhance readiness to learn activities. Organized community and parent volunteer programs are also prevalent in DoD DDESS. During school year 1993-94, preschool children in DoD DDESS received the benefit of over 45,000 volunteer hours.

Mr. Hector Navarez
Director, Domestic Schools
4040 North Fairfax Drive
Arlington, Virginia 22203

(703) 686-4354, ext. 111

Office of Family Policy, Support and Services

Child Development Services: Provides early childhood development programs on military installations throughout the world.
Family Advocacy Programs: Provides comprehensive programming to prevent and intervene in allegations in child and spouse abuse within military families.
Women, Infant and Children Programs: Provides education and services nutritional at-risk women and infants.

Ms. Linda Smith
4000 Defense Highway
The Pentagon, Room 3B930
Washington, DC 20301-4000

(202) 614-4074

Through these agencies, DoD has initiated a variety of programs designed to support instruction, student achievement, community involvement, and preschool services. A brief summary of each of the programs is provided in the following pages.

Family Advocacy New Parent Support Programs

The Department of Defense (DoD) is undertaking an important program which will encourage positive parenting from the earliest stages in a child's life. In the short and long term, this initiative will promote an environment where military children can thrive and, thus, be better prepared to start school ready to learn.

Findings suggest that the single most effective strategy for preventing child abuse is to provide parents with education and support around the time their baby is born. Statistically, the highest risk for spouse abuse occurs during pregnancy and immediately after the birth of a child. Each of the Military Services' Family Advocacy Programs have initiated New Parent Support Programs model after several of the most promising home visitor programs in the United States. The goals of the program include:

personal support for the new families;
reinforcement of the skills and strengths needed for quality parenting;
facilitation of resources;
prevention of child abuse and neglect by helping to reduce isolation of new families
identification of families with the potential for problem parenting related to poor parenting skills, inappropriate expectations, low self-esteem, and an inability to utilize community resources; and,
early referral to appropriate supportive services

Linda Smith, Director
Office of Family Support and Services
4000 Defense
Pentagon, Room 3B930
Washington, DC 20301-4000

(703) 614-4074
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