[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” content_placement=”top” bg_type=”bg_color” bg_override=”full” el_class=”row1″ bg_color_value=”#e97a34″][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][vc_custom_heading text=”WHERE DO WE STAND NATIONALLY?” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:36|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][vc_row_inner content_placement=”top” css=”.vc_custom_1672978644533{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19670″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1672971804260{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19671″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19672″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”KENTUCKY RANK AMONG 50 STATES” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:25|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff|line_height:1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1672978747977{margin-top: -32px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_empty_space height=”5px”][vc_column_text single_style=”” el_class=”postscript2″]

The above statistics are taken from the “Big Bold Future” report.  To view this report in detail, click here.

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][ult_dualbutton button1_text=”Big Bold Future Report” icon_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fprichard-backup.com%2Fbig-bold-future-report%2F|title:Big%20Bold%20Future%20Report|target:_blank” btn1_background_color=”#044f7c” button2_text=”Community Profiles” btn_icon_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fprichard-backup.com%2F2022profiles%2F|target:_blank” btn2_background_color=”#047940″ btn1_text_color=”#ffffff” btn2_text_color=”#ffffff” btn1_heading_style=”font-weight:bold;” btn2_heading_style=”font-weight:bold;”][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_empty_space height=”45px”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner el_class=”profiledata” css=”.vc_custom_1672978472093{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;}”][vc_column_text single_style=”” el_class=”indicators”]

KENTUCKY EARLY CHILDHOOD INDICATORS

[/vc_column_text][vc_progress_bar values=”%5B%7B%22label%22%3A%22PRESCHOOL%20ENROLLMENT%22%2C%22value%22%3A%2241%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22custom%22%2C%22customcolor%22%3A%22%23047940%22%2C%22customtxtcolor%22%3A%22%23ffffff%22%7D%2C%7B%22label%22%3A%22KINDERGARTEN%20READINESS%22%2C%22value%22%3A%2244%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22custom%22%2C%22customcolor%22%3A%22%23047940%22%2C%22customtxtcolor%22%3A%22%23ffffff%22%7D%5D” bgcolor=”bar_black” units=”%” el_class=”progress”][vc_column_text single_style=”” el_class=”postscript”]

The above are Kentucky statistics.  To see your individual Groundswell Community Profile, click here.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space height=”35px”][vc_custom_heading text=”WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:36|text_align:center|color:%23000000″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text single_style=””]Over the past few decades, a growing body of research suggests that participating in high-quality early childhood education programs can enhance children’s development, reduce achievement gaps at kindergarten entry, and even have long-term benefits in school and beyond. However, early learning can only provide these benefits if a child’s classroom experience is high-quality.

Elements defining high quality associated with child outcomes include teacher credentials, training, and support; class size and student-to-teacher ratio; use and support of early learning and development standards; and a system of continuous quality improvement.

  • Better education, training, and on-going support for teachers can improve their interactions with children, which can enhance children’s learning.
  • With smaller classes and fewer children per teacher, children have greater opportunities for interaction with adults and can receive more individualized attention, resulting in a higher quality learning experience.
  • Early learning and development standards offer programs guidance and establish the expectation that programs cover the full range of areas essential to children’s learning and development.

Because rich early childhood experiences lay foundations for all later learning, we call on Kentucky to make those foundations much stronger, in light of these key points:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1673008261513{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][vc_empty_space height=”35px”][vc_custom_heading text=”RESOURCES” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:36|text_align:center|color:%23000000″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text single_style=””]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”top” css=”.vc_custom_1673459726988{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1673459917179{border-top-width: 2px !important;border-right-width: 2px !important;border-bottom-width: 2px !important;border-left-width: 2px !important;border-left-color: #ee7724 !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #ee7724 !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #ee7724 !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #ee7724 !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”POLICY & INVESTMENT PRIORITIES” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:32|text_align:center|color:%23000000|line_height:1.2″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][vc_column_text single_style=””]
  • Promoting partnerships between public preschool and private childcare to expand early learning
  • Raising CCAP and public preschool eligibility to at least 200% of the federal poverty level, while increasing per child funding/reimbursement (Big Bold Ask)
  • Expanding HANDS, Kentucky’s evidence-based home visiting program to support families with children under age 3
[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”BIG BOLD ASK” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:26|text_align:center|color:%23ee7724″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text single_style=”” el_class=”mc-bullet-list”]✔ By FY 2026 increase annual general fund investment by $350 million[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][vc_separator color=”custom” el_width=”80″ accent_color=”#000000″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][vc_custom_heading text=”POLICY SPOTLIGHT” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:32|text_align:center|color:%23000000|line_height:1.2″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1673459930797{border-top-width: 2px !important;border-right-width: 2px !important;border-bottom-width: 2px !important;border-left-width: 2px !important;border-left-color: #ee7724 !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #ee7724 !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #ee7724 !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #ee7724 !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”LOCAL PRACTICE PRIORITIES” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:32|text_align:center|color:%23000000″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][vc_column_text single_style=””]
  • Mobilize community strengths to build up local learning and quality of life
  • Use what you know about your distinctive place to find ways to support your unique learners
[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”custom” el_width=”80″ accent_color=”#007934″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][vc_custom_heading text=”GROUNDSWELL ACTION SPOTLIGHT” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:32|text_align:center|color:%23047940|line_height:1.2″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][vc_column_text single_style=””]Local leaders in the Owensboro/Daviess County community in Kentucky, led by the Public Life Foundation of Owensboro and Prichard Committee Chair Clay Ford, have taken the first steps to ensure a big, bold future for local children through the development of an early childhood ecosystem.

Community members there are building a template for early childhood success in Daviess County that will be a shining example of what local communities across Kentucky and the nation can achieve when local innovation and civic pride unites in the best interest of children. The group is working to ensure that all children receive access to high quality, voluntary early childhood education. By convening local leaders, parents, educators, and advocates, we can ensure that all parents in Daviess County and beyond have such an option for their young children. Together we can ensure that all children receive the strong start that they deserve, and that parents in the local workforce have access to safe, affordable care for their children throughout the workday.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”19910″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://prichard-backup.com/groundswell/”][vc_column_text single_style=”” el_class=”postscript3″]

The above story is taken from our “Groundswell Action” stories.  Groundswell Actions come from communities around Kentucky working to making a difference at the local level.  Read more of them here.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text single_style=””]Find more statistics below by clicking the “Big Bold Future Report”, or see how your School District is doing by clicking on the “Community Profiles” option.[/vc_column_text][ult_dualbutton button1_text=”Big Bold Future Report” icon_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fprichard-backup.com%2Fbig-bold-future-report%2F|title:Big%20Bold%20Future%20Report|target:_blank” btn1_background_color=”#044f7c” button2_text=”Community Profiles” btn_icon_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fprichard-backup.com%2F2022profiles%2F|target:_blank” btn2_background_color=”#047940″ btn1_text_color=”#ffffff” btn2_text_color=”#ffffff” btn1_heading_style=”font-weight:bold;” btn2_heading_style=”font-weight:bold;”][/vc_column][/vc_row]