Preschool Expansion

PRESCHOOL EXPANSION PROJECT

IMPACTS: Kindergarten Readiness; Third Grade Reading Proficiency

Too few children in Flagstaff have equitable access to high-quality preschool.  This condition is unsatisfactory and is an obstacle for advancing world-class education for every child in Flagstaff.

Expanding preschool opportunities will almost certainly produce benefits that exceed its costs, with measurable benefits of increased school readiness, higher academic achievement.  This will translate into a higher educated workforce with greater potential for individual and community prosperity.

WHAT HIGH-QUALITY PRESCHOOL LOOKS LIKE

WHAT WE ARE DOING IN FLAGSTAFF

We have initiated a community conversation focused on piloting a collectively-funded project that will provide high-quality, full-day, year-round preschool for children who are not otherwise being served in existing preschool sites.  Our goal is to seat the first class of students in January, 2020.

Participating organizations in this conversation include:

• Arizona Community Foundation of Flagstaff
• Association for Supportive Child Care
• City of Flagstaff
• Coconino Community College
• Coconino County
• Coconino County Superintendent of Schools
• Expect More Arizona
• First Things First
• Flagstaff Unified School District
• Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce
• NACOG Head Start
• The NARBHA Institute
• Northern Arizona Healthcare
• Northern Arizona University
• Read On Arizona
• The Wharton Foundation
• United Way of Northern Arizona
• University of Arizona Coconino Cooperative Extension

PROGRESS TO DATE:

• Published the report:  Expanding High Quality Preschool in Flagstaff: A Request to Support a Pilot Solution
• Initial investment and community support from key community partners established:
  • City of Flagstaff: $70,000 for FY20
  • Coconino County: $35,000 for FY20
  • Wharton Foundation: $150,000 for FY20-FY22
  • Flagstaff Unified School District: $125,000 earmarked in FY20-21 budget for capital improvements
  • First Things First Coconino Regional Council: $160,000 proposed (FY21-FY22) for FT preschool family intake coordinator
  • University of Arizona Coconino Cooperative Extension: $80,000 (2020) for Early Learning Family Partner Program Coordinator
  • Association for Supportive Child Care: $240,000 (in-kind 2020-2023) staff re-allocation and programmatic development supports
  • Coconino Community College: $81,000 per year plus ancillary costs for re-establishing early childhood education program
  • Northern Arizona Healthcare:  In-kind profession expertise for branding, marketing, and messaging
  • Northern Arizona University: In-kind professional expertise for establishing, measuring, and reporting program quality and effectiveness
  • Additional funding for the three-year pilot is being explored among additional community and statewide partners
• August 30, 2019 planning retreat was conducted to produce an implementation road map.  See the road map here.
• Rebecca Cirzan from the Association for Supportive Child Care begins serving as the coordinator of the implementation process with an independent focus on ensuring a high-quality product.
• Initiating a process for naming, branding and marketing which will be conducted through January and mid-February.