Vermont Department of Education
EARLY EDUCATION IN VERMONT PUBLIC SCHOOLS SURVEY RESULTS
Background
To gain a better understanding of school involvement in preschool education, members of the Vermont Legislature requested specific information on the status of public early education within the state and the utilization of public school funds that support these efforts. A brief survey of school districts was conducted by the Vermont Department of Education between November and December to obtain data specific to the request. For purposes of the survey, publicly funded preschool was defined as those early education services for three- and four-year-olds that are funded wholly or in part with General State Support/Average Daily Membership (ADM) monies. Programs whose services were funded wholly by Essential Early Education (EEE), Early Education Initiative (EEI), Title I funds or Even Start grants were excluded from this study. The survey did not request data on student achievement due to a lack of uniform assessment measures for children in this age group.
Method
DOE staff prepared a brief survey for distribution. Surveys were sent to each superintendent explaining the research effort. In turn, superintendents had the option of completing the surveys for each school district within their office or enlisting the support of their respective school districts.
Non-respondents were contacted the week following the deadline to increase the response rate. This effort yielded improved results; however, a small percentage of surveys from school districts were not received in time to prepare this report.
Results
Of the 238 school districts which were sent surveys, 219 were returned for a 92 percent return rate. Responses to the questions were reported as follows:
1. Does your town provide publicly funded preschool?
Yes 131 (60%)
No 88 (40%)
For the 131 towns reporting that they provide publicly funded preschool:
2. Publicly-funded preschool services are offered to:
All resident children 41(30%)
Selected children 90 (70%)
2. How many hours of publicly funded preschool services are offered per week to:
Three-year-olds 97 programs averaged 9.8 hours/week (range 2 - 34 hours)
Less than 10 hours 39 programs (40%) Ten hours 41 programs (42%) More than 10 hours 17 programs (18%)
Four-year-olds 131 programs averaged 11.2 hours/wk (range 2 - 34 hours) Less than 10 hours 31 programs (24%)
Ten hours 63 programs (48%) More than 10 hours 37 programs (28%)
3. Where are the publicly funded preschool services provided? (check all that apply)
In a public school 97
Off-site in a building operated by the school 24
Off-site in partnership with an existing early childhood program 43
5. Are publicly funded preschool services offered in partnership with: (check all that apply)
70 programs (53%) operate in partnership
Licensed child care center(s) 44
Head Start 43
Parent Child Center 20
Other* 32
*(registered family child care providers, licensed preschools, adult education programs, Success by Six, Even Start Family Literacy Programs)
6. If the town's publicly funded preschool is operated in partnership with a contracted community provider, approximately what percentage of the preschool education funds is retained by the school district?
Range: 5 - 100%
5% 3
15% 4
20% 4
25% 1
30% 6
100% 26*
No reponse 24
* Programs indicate partnerships with adult education programs, child care centers where school districts cover staff costs, school-based programs incorporating Head Start or child care, and migrant education services. Typically, programs reporting that 100 percent of ADM funds were retained were existing school-based programs that broadened services to collaborate with other community-based providers.
7. If the town's publicly funded preschool is operated in partnership with a contracted community provider, what services, in addition to administrative support, does the school district offer the community provider? (check all that apply)
Space/facility 25 (19%)
Equipment and/or materials 39 (30%)
Transportation 13 (10%)
Access to school health services/information 23 (17%)
Professional development for early childhood staff 40 (31%)
Access to school’s guidance/counseling services 18 (14%)
Other* 24 (18%)
Technical assistance, paid paraeducators, itinerant early educators
8. Was the town's decision to provide publicly funded preschool the result of communitywide discussions?
Yes 76 (58%)
No 24 (18%)
Not sure 27 (21%)
No response 4 ( 3%)
If yes, were community providers from child care, Head Start, or Parent Child Centers involved in program planning and design?
Yes 58 (76%)
No 8 (11%)
No sure 6 ( 8%)
No response 4 ( 5%)
9. Are parents assessed any fees for publicly funded programs operating 10 hours per week or less?
Yes 10 ( 8%)
No 101 (78%)
No sure 4 ( 3%)
No response 14 (11%)
For the 88 towns reporting that they do not provide publicly funded preschool:
10. If your town does not offer publicly funded preschool services at this time, is your town exploring plans to do so in the future?
Yes 34 (39%)
No 43 (49%)
No sure 11 (12%)
If yes, are you considering developing contracts with existing community providers?
Yes 25 (74%)
No 0
No sure 9 (26%)
Limitations of the Survey
The data gathered from these surveys are informative but they do no tell the whole story. It would be necessary to obtain more detailed qualitative data in order to gain a full understanding of how early childhood education programs are being operated in Vermont. DOE staff has not had an opportunity to follow up with respondents to verify or clarify questions about responses.