Date of Award

Spring 2020

Document Type

Open Access Dissertation

Department

Educational Leadership and Policies

First Advisor

Peter Moyi

Abstract

For over 50 years, school readiness has been a concern of educators and policymakers. In 1965, the Head Start program was “conceived as part of the ‘war on poverty’ to provide children from less affluent backgrounds with the kinds of experiences that other children were more likely to receive in the home” (Coley, 2002, p.8). Federal and state legislation continues to be enacted with the hope the inequities will be addressed. Ladson-Billings (2007) asserts the rigor of the standards is intended to appease the middle class. Exploring unique ways to transition a child from home to school should be of primary importance to all educational leaders.

In this action research study the researcher approached the study from the perspective of education debt (Ladson-Billings, 2006) rather than a deficit perspective. The researcher examined the role of the Parent/Family Literacy Coordinator (PFLC) at one Title I School and analyzed ways to improve the preschool program, Drop In and Play and ways the PFLC might better impact the learning of the preschool children, their transition to the K4 program in a public elementary school, and provide support to the parents/families. This preschool program is designed to assist students on the rigorous path of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate (South Carolina Education Oversight Committee, 2015) and bridge the transition from home to school.

Rights

© 2020, Susan Bates Hill

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