MD4 Assignment
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MD3Assign-Winslow-A.docx2
“THE PROGRAM AND EVALUATION TOOL PLANNING”
Angel Winslow
EDSD 7900
Module 3 Assignment
COURSE PROJECT PARTS 1 AND 2
Date Due: January 8, 2023
Part 1: The Program
Early childhood education is one of the specialization areas that had its issues presented in Mayo Keller’s taskforce. As a member of the taskforce specializing in early childhood education, I will present to the taskforce programs that need improvement for the ultimate goal of advancing the sector. One program that need to be evaluated and improved for change is the enrollment program into early childhood education. The goal of the program is to increase enrollment and improve participation of young learners in early childhood education. The enrollment of children aged 3 to 5 years into early childhood education has significantly been declining in the Grand City area. The situation therefore calls for the stakeholders to look into the causes and solutions (Walden University, 2016). Parents, district education officers, mayor’s office, and early childhood educators are some of the stakeholders concerned with the program.
Data
Within a span of 5 years the number of children aged 3 to 5 years who were admitted into early childhood education declined. The percentage of children in this particular age bracket who enrolled into preschool program reduced from 49% to 43% within a period of 5 years. Kindergarten enrolment in Grand City area has declined over a period of 5 years compared to the neighboring states. Over the last 5 years the enrollment of young learners into the early childhood education from the various communities such as Whites, Asians, American natives, Pacific islanders, and African American declined in Grand City area as compared to its neighboring states (Walden University, 2016). The reduction in enrollment continues to take place despite the increase in population in Grand City Area. There has been an increase in population in the area due to migration of refuges from Riza. While enrollment of young leaners into early childhood education continues to decline, the number of families in need of subsidized preschool programs continue to increase. Grand City area recorded an increase from 34% to 48% in the number of families in need of subsidized preschool programs. The decline in enrollment and the increase in the number of families in need of subsidized preschool programs could give possible indications of financial difficulties faced by the parents and families in Grand City area. A majority of the learners in Grand City are come from low-income families. About 80% of the student population in schools comprise of learners from minority groups and African American communities (Walden University, 2016).
Making the Program Effective through Strategies, Initiatives, and Activities
The current enrollment of young learners into early childhood education in Grand City area has not been effective. There are strategies that can help improving its effectiveness. Magnuson and Waldfogel (2016) propose the use of accommodative approaches to early childhood education. The authors through their article looked into how economic disparities between low-income and high-income families affected their achievements and enrollment into early childhood program. The article proposes the use of reasonably priced early childhood programs as a strategy to increase enrollment in situations where family income affects enrollment. This strategy can effectively apply to Grand City area since a big percentage of learners come from low-income families. The initiatives involved in the strategy would entail helping families identify early childhood education centers that provide affordable programs for enrollment. The other initiative would entail working with the department of education and district education officers to cap the pricing for early childhood education programs. The activities would include identifying listing early childhood education centers that offer affordable programs, encouraging parents from low-income families to enroll their children into the programs, create awareness about the availability of such programs. Magnuson and Duncan (2016) propose for an increased public funding for publicly funded preschool that entail a mix of part- and whole-day programs for leaners from the low-income families. It is indeed practical that low-income families mainly depend on publicly funded early childhood programs. The initiative would entail the department of education and mayor’s office increasing the funding for public early childhood education programs and encouraging parents to enroll their children into public programs. The activities would include creating awareness of the existence for public programs, and lobby for funding for public programs.
Part 2: Evaluation Tool Planning
Indicators of Effectiveness
Indicators in a program show the changes and improvements made. Attainment of a desired change is an indication of effectiveness. Progress that can be measured in comparison between the days before the program improvement and the days after the program improvement can be used as indication of effectiveness. The indicators of progress that will be used to show the effectiveness of this particular program will include an increase in enrollment into early childhood education that will be ascertained every enrollment year. Enrollment data will be recorded annually during every enrollment period and analyzed. The other indicator that will be used to assess the effectiveness of the enrollment program will be determining the increase in funding for public early childhood education programs. Public funding data will be collected and analyzed against public enrolment every year. Other than public funding, data will be collected on the availability of affordable early childhood programs in Grand City area. An increase in the number of such programs will be a positive indication that learners from low income families can certainly enroll into early childhood education.
Evaluation Criteria and Tool Design
Evaluation of a program is a critical process that gives program initiators the opportunity to ascertain the progress made and identify possible challenges (Giancola, 2014). The criteria for evaluating the progress of the program will be based on both short-term and long-term impacts. The short-term effects of an enrollment will be recognized within a period of one year while the long term effects will be recognized within a period of 5 to 10 years. Nonetheless, it will be essential to track progresses regularly. While enrollment mainly takes place after every year, it will be critical look into biannual data to determine any enrollments made within mid-year. Enrollment data is mainly quantitative in nature derived by counting actual student enrollment within a specific time period. Comparison group design would be necessary when comparing the enrollment rates in Grand City area against its neighboring states. The comparison group design would also be appropriate in determining the enrollment rates per county. Existing data will serve as a basis for the comparison. Data plays a critical role in tracking the progress of a program (Fullan, 2016). The rationale guiding the choice of the evaluation tool and design is based on the fact that the program will mainly utilize, past, present and future changes in data as a guide in evaluating performance. Enrollment of young learners into early childhood education has declined in Grand City area for the last 5 years. With the implementation of the program there will be anticipated changes in future.
Buy-in and Collaboration Strategies
Collaboration with the stakeholders such as the department of education, district education officers, mayors’ office, and parents will be very critical for the success of the program. Nonetheless, to ensure that the stakeholders accept and support the program there will be need for their involvement. Communication and solicitation of feedback is one strategy for strengthening collaboration and encouraging buy-in. It will be necessary to communicate the program to the department of education so as to secure funding for public early childhood education programs. It will also be necessary to communicate to the parents and get their feedback on the declining enrollment. Apart from communication and solicitation of feedback, establishing shared vision, shared values, and goals is essential in getting the support of all stakeholders (Giancola, 2014). The goals of the program will be unifying to all the stakeholders. Parents, education department, early childhood educators, and district education officers all have one goal of ensuring increased enrollment in early childhood education.
References
Fullan, M. (2016). The elusive nature of whole system improvement in education. Journal of Educational Change, 17(4), 539-544.
Giancola, S. P. (2014). Evaluation matters: Getting the information you need from your evaluation. Giancola Research Associates, Inc.
Magnuson, K., & Waldfogel, J. (2016). Trends in income-related gaps in enrollment in early childhood education: 1968 to 2013. AERA open, 2(2), 2332858416648933.
Walden University. (2016). Grand City education and demographic data files. Retrieved from https://cdn media.waldenu.edu/2dett4d/Walden/EDDD/2015/CH/mm/grand_city/index.html
