What is a Systems-Approach to School Readiness?

A systems approach to school readiness looks at the readiness of schools and community systems to support families and their young children. Access to early learning programs, health services, and basic needs, strengthens the assets that children and families already have when entering the TK-12 system. As a result, communities with well-resourced, coordinated services increase the likelihood of healthy physical, social and emotional development, along with long-term academic achievement, for young learners. 

Malleable factors associated with stronger foundations include:

• Child has access to an early learning program
  
• Child comes to school healthy, well rested, well-fed
  
• Child has consistent attendance and families receive support when consistent attendance is a challenge ​ 
  
• Child exposed to less screen time
  
• Child demonstrates resilience (able to adjust to changes in routine)​
  
• Family ha​s access to and uses community resources 
  
• Family has stable housing 
  

Readiness Efforts in Santa Clara County

In the spring of 2022, Kindergarten teachers from across Santa Clara County were invited to ​participate in a countywide Kindergarten Symposium. Between June 21st through June 23rd, 2022, 19 out of 27 school districts sent teacher representatives to participate. An additional 3 teachers served as county representatives.

Participating teachers heard from distinguished leaders in the field of early learning and assessment, reflected on high-quality, whole-child assessment approaches, and engaged in collaborative discussions to work towards common Readiness tools for Santa Clara County schools.

Templates for School Districts

Through teacher workgroups and in consultation with teacher-leaders, three templates were developed to support schools with readiness efforts.

• The Beginning-of-Year Observation Tool​ for TK/K provides teachers with a preliminary guide to observe students' strengths in the areas of social-emotional learning, physical wellbeing, language and literacy, and math and cognition. For a more robust tool, please see the Desired Results Developmental Profile. 
  
• The Parent Needs Survey can be used by districts to gather information about the basic needs of TK/K families. This document may be especially helpful for Community Schools.
• The Parent Survey Teacher Template can be used by teachers to learn more about the children in their classroom.

For questions regarding these tools, please contact Veronica Garza at vgarza@sccoe.org.​

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