Sharing Resources

I read a paper called Focusing on results in Promise Neighborhoods, which is a recommendation for federal initiative.  This paper outlines Harlem Children’s zones initiative to help selected local communities to dramatically improve outcomes and opportunities for children and their families.  The initiative will be diverse in its approach, reflecting local needs and context.  Promise neighborhoods strives to achieve

·         Children are healthy and prepared for school entry

·         Children and youth are healthy and succeed in school

·         Youth graduate from high school and college, and

·         Families and neighborhoods support the healthy development,  academic success and well-being of their children

To enable communities to gauge their progress two types of indicators should be present.  The first would be an indicator that allows communities to track progress year to year.  Clear federal guidance and expectations about which indicators could be measured and viewed as signs of progress.  The second type would be and indicator of capacity to achieve the results.  An example of such and indicator would assess quality of teaching, which is a critical indicator of improving students’ academic success.

Attention to closing gaps will ensure that Promise Neighborhoods expand opportunities for the children and families who otherwise face the greatest barriers to success.  Promise Neighborhoods will evaluate their neighborhood data as well as for a larger jurisdictions and regions and set targets as it relates to closing gaps in health, academic success and college entry/graduation between children and families served within Promise Neighborhoods and children and families in the city, the school district or the region.  The effort concentrates on closing gaps that exist in terms of racial, ethnic or language acquisition disparities for children and families in the Promise Neighborhoods, so that all children in the neighborhood area are provided the opportunities and support needed to succeed.

This initiative addresses inequity for all children.  It will address some of the barriers immigrant families and ELL children face regarding early education.

Reference:

Casey, A. (2010)  Focusing on Results in Promise Neighborhoods Retrieved at  www.hcz.com