Early Implementation of Ready Schools Miami: Findings of the First-Year Evaluation

Abstract

Ready Schools Miami is a systems change effort to improve the well-being and educational attainment of children at risk of academic, health, and social difficulties in one of this country’s largest and most diverse communities, Miami-Dade County. Funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and led by The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, the Lastinger Center for Learning at the University of Florida, and the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Ready Schools is fostering collaboration, coordination and leveraging of resources among Miami-Dade County’s early care and education organizations, public school system, universities, social service agencies, community organizations, and health centers to create systemic supports for early learning from birth through elementary school.

In only a year, Ready Schools partners have made significant progress toward improving the systems in Miami-Dade County that contribute to school readiness and success—early care, education, health and family support. This report presents findings of the first year of evaluation.