In February, two Tuscola County Head Start programs received grant funding through the Future Youth Involvement Foundation to purchase two iStartSmart Computer Learning Centers.

Head Start is a federally funded preschool program for 3-5 year-olds who are economically or otherwise disadvantaged. With increased curriculum standards and skill expectations for kindergarten and primary grade students, a quality preschool experience is a key part of preparing young children to enter school.

This past fall, 57% of Caro’s incoming kindergartners did not have adequate reading readiness skills as determined by DIEBELS reading assessment scores; 24% did not have adequate mathematics skills as determined by AIMSweb mathematics assessment scores.

At the preschool level, high percentages of children enter scoring below widely held expectations for their age in literacy and mathematics. Many children are already behind expectations for their age when they enter preschool. Effective strategies must be implemented to close this readiness gap by the time these children enter kindergarten. The first five years of a child’s life are the most important for healthy brain development. Long-term studies show positive impacts for children participating in high-quality early childhood development programs including higher scores on math and reading achievement tests.

Computers are an integral part of the world preschoolers are growing up in. Studies show computers can significantly support strategies for Head Start students with the careful selection of educational software suited to children’s skills and interest levels.

Research results indicated reading and math skills development in young children can be enhanced by computer use coupled with other age and developmentally appropriate play-based learning experiences.

Hatch Technology released a new computer learning system in August 2010 based on recent understanding of brain development for children two to six as well as current research and learning standards. System capabilities are correlated to state Early Learning Standards and align with national standards. The system features a Hatch exclusive utility software program which provides a safe computing environment for children online and off-line.

Education programming includes access to interactive books and fun learning experiences in five skill families identified for school readiness.

Children’s progress is saved each time they use the computer so they will start at the level they left off at when they log in again. The iStartSmart system features progress monitoring tools for teachers who can use the information in planning individualized instruction for students.

The county’s Head Start programs currently had computers for students to use, but they were old and had been donated or recycled from other uses. They do not work dependably and often are inoperative. Much of the software in use was purchased in 1995.

With tight budgets, federal funding was not available to obtain high-quality educational computer systems. After a presentation by Hatch Technology on the new iStartSmart Learning Center, Area Manger Karen Kubiak wrote a grant request to the Future Youth Involvement Foundation and received funding for two systems. The learning centers were installed and staff trained in early February. Students began using the computers on Feb. 14.

As part of an Action Research Project through the University of Phoenix, Kubiak will be evaluating the effectiveness of the iStartSmart with Head Start students. If the systems prove helpful, further funding will be sought to place a system in the other Tuscola County Head Start programs.

Article reprinted courtesy of the Tuscola County Advertiser, Caro, MI