BACKGROUND:

Since 1995, the Albemarle County Department of Social Services (“DSS”), in conjunction with the Albemarle County School Division has operated the Virginia Pre-School Initiative, known as “Bright Stars.”  This program has evolved from a single classroom at Stone Robinson Elementary School thirteen years ago to  seven classrooms in six elementary schools (Stone Robinson, Agnor-Hurt, Greer, Scottsville, Woodbrook and Cale) serving 112 children in fiscal year 2007.  Bright Stars introduces children to the school learning environment, encourages socialization with peers and provides daily, hands-on, interactive learning experiences in language, math, science, art, music, writing, dramatic play and social studies. Bright Stars Family Coordinators help parents to identify family needs that, if addressed, can improve their quality of life and their child’s success in school.  Moreover, Family Coordinators engage in goal-setting and problem-solving. For children who are at-risk for falling behind academically compared to their peers, spending a year in the Bright Stars program is of particular importance to developing skills to be successful in school.

Since DSS serves as the administrative and fiscal lead for the program; it provides an annual report to the Board outlining activities and outcomes for the program during the past fiscal year.

STRATEGIC PLAN:

Goal 1: Enhance the Quality of Life

Objective 1.1:  The Board of Supervisors and general government employees will increase collaborative efforts with the School Board and with employees of the schools system to assist the School Division to achieve recognition as a world class education system.

Directional Statement: Local Government will develop specific strategies in coordination with the School Division.  Strategies should include working together to ensure all Albemarle County children enter the school system ready to learn.

DISCUSSION:

The annual report is a summary of the year in review and provides demographic information and program outcomes as well as trend data reflecting test scores for children in succeeding years. In FY07, 76 percent of children who were in the program for at least 6 months reached or exceeded the benchmark developmental range scores on the PALS PreK, a scientifically-based phonological awareness and literacy screening that measures preschoolers’ developing knowledge of important literacy fundamentals, by the end of the preschool year. Follow-up data on previous classes suggests that learning gains made in the Bright Stars year holds up for a high percentage of children as well.

BUDGET IMPACT:

None

RECOMMENDATIONS:

This report is for information only and does not require action on the part of the Board.

ATTACHMENTS

Bright Stars Annual Report FY2007

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