Types of Partnerships
The goal of House Bill 3 and RECESS Initiative is to have formal partnerships. These partnerships include having a district prekindergarten classroom located at a "satellite" campus within an early learning center within the community with children dually enrolled in both programs and receiving all available services provided. There are several potential delivery models. If the district is already meeting the needs of 4-year-old prekindergarten children in their area, they could potentially expand their 3-year-old initiatives in the same manner.
Informal partnerships involve coordination across child care and public school programs such as alignment of curriculum/ assessments, joint professional development, and/or establishing common goals and messaging around early childhood education. This type of partnership may be ideal for districts already meeting HB3 requirements and not ready to expand 3-year-old initiatives OR for those with future formal partnership needs in the next year or two (perhaps they have filed a waiver while they work on their transition plan). Informal partnerships can begin the relationship building process with potential early learning center partners. These partnerships also require a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to define the full scope of the partnership and demonstrate the commitment of all partners.
Professional Development Partnerships
These informal partnerships include an LEA partnering with one or more early learning centers or Head Start in their community for collaborative training opportunities. These partnerships are focused on consistent messaging and school readiness initiatives and support increasing the overall quality of early care and education throughout the community. The partnership can be designed around training topics including developmentally appropriate practice, family engagement, behavior management, observation and assessment, to name a few.
School Readiness Integration Partnerships
In this informal partnership, an LEA partners with one or more ELC or Head Start. These partnerships meet regularly to discuss and share data centered on school readiness initiatives. Other community stakeholders such as coalitions, Workforce Boards and other social service agencies may be considered as a third partner. As with professional development partnerships, the focus would be on having consistent messaging and initiatives to increase the overall quality of early care and education throughout the community.
For all partnerships, early learning centers must meet one of the following eligibility criteria:
1) Texas Rising Star 3 or 4 star certified;
2) nationally accredited;
3) active Texas School Ready participant;
4) Head Start;
5) or meet TEC 29.1532
Each RECESS Grantee Service Area offers support and resources specific to their area.
Please note services and resources may vary. Please contact your RECESS Grantee for more information.