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SPARK DC is a project to help
communities prepare children ages 3-6 to be ready for
school.
SPARK DC is working to make schools
ready for children.
SPARK DC is working to improve coordination and align
programs and services for young children.
- SPARK DC is enrolling 1000
children ages 21/2 to 3 in Wards 1,7 and 8.
- Each child receives a health
and developmental screening.
- SPARK DC is working to
improve coordination between parent, school and
community.
- SPARK DC is working to
improve the quality of the childcare setting.
- Join SPARK when their child
is age 3
- Allow SPARK DC to follow
their child's progress for five years
- Participate in training
to help parents be education advocates for their
children
- Let SPARK DC know what
you need to help your child be ready for school
- Parents are assigned a
family support worker.
- Parents receive training
on helping their children get ready for school.
- Parents receive support
on helping their child move from childcare or home
care to school.
No, SPARK is working to improve the quality and coordination
of early childhood programs and services in every community
over the long term.
No, Head Start is a comprehensive program for children
with family incomes below the poverty line. SPARK
DC will focus on vulnerable children, but there is no
income test. We work with all kinds of child care
and early education providers- family child care homes,
kith and kin care, parents caring for their own children,
as well as Head Start. We are working to improve the
linkages and coordination among those programs, schools
and communities.
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No, SPARK wants every child to be ready to succeed in
school. Children in family childcare, relative care
or at home can join SPARK. SPARK respects the childcare
choices parents make.
The District of Columbia has an early childhood population
with tremendous needs and limited revenue sources. SPARK
DC can help government agencies and community-based
programs improve coordination to make the most of limited
resources. For example, problems with immunizations
in the public schools have been the source of a major
crisis. The Department of Health is piloting a health
data system to track school-aged health data. Because
of SPARK DC, child care programs will be included in
the pilot.
We can demonstrate the benefits of using the same system
to collect health data in early childhood that will
be used in the school years. Currently, there
is no standard practices for children to move from
child care or preschool to elementary school. SPARK
DC with work with local schools and early care
and education providers, parents and community leaders
to develop practices that help parents and children
feel welcome and supported in school. We will help teachers
learn more about the early education programs
in the school's community and early education
providers learn more about schools and school readiness
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