Kern County School Readiness Initiative works in coordination with early education and school districts to deliver quality early care and education, health and social services, parental education/involvement and support, plus improve schools' readiness for children through family friendly environments in school based or school-linked settings. The School Readiness Initiative uses the National Education Goals Panel definition of school readiness.

What is the School Readiness Initiative?
In January 2001, Governor Davis established a School Readiness Task Force with the purpose of developing a comprehensive program to better prepare children to enter school ready to succeed. This statewide School Readiness Initiative was launched by CCFC through targeted School Readiness programs that demonstrate a coordinated, research-based approach to early care and education in California. The Office of the Secretary for Education is working with the CCFC, State agencies, County Commissions, and other representatives through the School Readiness Task Force and Advisory Committee. Over time, it is hoped that California General Funds will provide significant resources, together with the 'start-up' investment of CCFC and County Commission Prop.10 funds and local resources, to ensure sustained School Readiness programs throughout the State. The California Commission adopted the National Education Goals Panel definition of school readiness in the areas of children's readiness for school, schools' readiness for children and family and community supports and services that contribute to children's readiness for school success.

What is the purpose of the School Readiness Initiative?
The purpose of the statewide School Readiness Initiative is to improve the ability of families, schools and communities to prepare children to enter school ready to succeed.

What is Kern County School Readiness?
The goal of the Kern County School Readiness Initiative is to increase the number of children who enter school healthy and ready to learn. The initiative is designed to identify service gaps, to expand valuable existing programs, to promote practices that best prepare children for school, and to support those families and communities with the greatest need in preparing their children for school.

Who participates in School Readiness?
The Kern County School Readiness Initiative funds school readiness programs in communities served by high priority schools in the lowest three deciles of the 1999 Academic Performance Index. School Readiness programs must be school based or school linked.

Currently, there are 13 school districts and 35 individual schools involved in both phase 1 and phase 2 of School Readiness. Those districts and schools are:

What are the criteria and requirements of School Readiness?
Participating school communities will develop their School Readiness Initiative sites using the Five Essential and Coordinated Elements outlined by the California Children and Families Commission. These elements are:

• Early Care and Development
• Parenting and Family Support
• Health and Social Services
• School's Readiness for Children (school capacity)
• Overall Support (site infrastructure and administration)

These essential elements will give local communities the greatest flexibility in implementing programs that will best prepare children to enter school ready to learn.

What funds are available and where do the funds come from?
The Kern County Children and Families Commission funds the School Readiness Initiative using Proposition 10 tobacco tax revenues. The Commission matches available State funds of approximately $1.2 million a year and expects to spend close to $10 million over the next four years.

Who will implement the School Readiness Initiative?
The Kern County Children and Families Commission will implement the School Readiness Initiative in partnership with Kern County school districts, the Kern County Superintendent of Schools and other local agencies.

Who can we contact for more information?
Kimberly Shipp, Senior Program Officer at (661) 328-5522 or kshipp@kccfc.org. For complete School Readiness Initiative information and resources go to http://ccfc.ca.gov/SchoolReady.htm