Agenda

Return

D.3

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Date:	May 22, 2018

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

2017 Kindergarten Readiness Assessment

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 05/22/2018

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Alicia Nuchols, 925-252-4500

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: May 22, 2018
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

Consider accepting the 2017 Kindergarten Readiness Assessment and discuss First 5 activities to support young families in Contra Costa.

FISCAL IMPACT:

None.

BACKGROUND:

2018 marks the 20^th anniversary of the passage of Proposition 10, the voter initiative that created First 5. California voters recognized then, as they do today, that the early years are critical. Brain science findings in those 20 years confirm that a successful lifetime is rooted in the first days, weeks and years of life. First 5 Contra Costa has established itself as a key leader in supporting children 0-5 and their families, particularly those in greatest need.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

Public investment in early childhood is not only important for ensuring that children have the best start in life, it also yields returns in other public systems such as education, health and law enforcement, and leads to higher earnings and tax revenues.

First 5 Contra Costa has used its resources to create and enhance systems that support young children, including:

Quality Matters, a system that improves the quality of child care programs. This Quality Rating and Improvement System provides professional development, coaching, and other supports to raise the quality of preschool and early learning providers.
Help Me Grow, to ensure children receive early and regular developmental screening and, where necessary, the referral and intervention required to help children catch up developmentally.
The Family Support Initiative, which provides parenting supports to families who need them most. Through home visiting and First 5 Centers, we provide in-home and center-based parent support, education, referral to services, and socialization to families with children 0-3
Community Regional Groups, providing leadership training to parents and other community volunteers, continue to advocate for families in their communities.

The needs of our children are still great. First 5’s recent countywide Kindergarten Readiness Assessment found that overall only 44% of children are fully ready for kindergarten when they enter the K-12 system, and nearly a quarter do not demonstrate proficiency in any of the measurements for readiness. Moreover, disparities are wide; over a third of children from households with incomes less than $50,000 are not ready, compared to just 11% of children from higher earning households. (The full findings from the Assessment will be rolled out at First 5’s “Coffee and Kids” Breakfast, Thursday, May 24^th).

After 20 years, First 5’s revenue from tobacco tax sales continues to decline. By 2020, annual revenues will be close to half of what they were when First 5 began. To sustain the gains that have made over the next 20 years First 5 will be broadening its advocacy role and inviting the County and all its constituent jurisdictions to prioritize children, support families in all ways, and make the best possible investments of public funds to ensure all children grow to succeed in learning and life.

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

RECOMMENDATION(S):

FISCAL IMPACT:

BACKGROUND:

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

CLERK'S ADDENDUM