Pulaski County Schools…
Laying the Foundation for the Future
Laying the Foundation for the Future
The massive renovation projects taking place in the Pulaski County School System has reiterated a fact that has held true throughout the ages…the foundation is the most crucial part of any endeavor. Without a solid foundation, there cannot be any further progress. We believe this to be true whether it is a building or a child’s education.
Over the past few years, the Pulaski County School System has reaffirmed its belief in a solid foundation through a renewed emphasis on early education especially in the area of reading. Research shows that if a child can read at grade level by the time they exit the primary program (3rd), then that child is likely to be successful through out the rest of their academic career.
We have implemented full-day preschool and kindergarten programs, adopted aggressive district-wide reading goals, and staffed our elementary schools with curriculum specialists. These early education initiatives are receiving support and praise from staff, students, and parents alike and are already proving to be successful. Our elementary assessment scores continue to climb every year.
Pulaski County was not receiving enough state and federal dollars to serve all the children in our area who needed pre-school services. We implemented a full day preschool program to help serve these needs. Our pre-school classes are located throughout the county at every elementary school and are staffed by certified teachers who are assisted by pre-school associates. Preschool teachers attend professional conferences, have monthly meetings to share successful methods, and visit at least one other program outside of Pulaski County during the year. In addition, all preschool teachers make at least two home visits per year to all their students and offer parent workshops and training on everything from health issues to teaching reading at home. Without Pulaski County’s pre-school program, over 250 children would not get the services they need to prepare them to enter kindergarten.
Although the Kentucky Department of Education only funds ˝ day kindergarten programs, the Pulaski County School System supports a Monday through Friday full day program. Since the implementation of the full day kindergarten program, students have definitely been better prepared for the 1st grade. Pulaski County’s kindergarten teachers are a very dedicated and professional staff. Under the direction of our elementary supervisor, Margaret Mauney, the kindergarten staff has been involved in a district-wide project of developing a consistent kindergarten curriculum. This district-wide kindergarten curriculum will insure that all kindergarten students in all schools will receive the same quality instruction. This helps prepare all students to be equally ready for 1st grade. The kindergarten staff has also developed a new progress report that clearly tells parents the progress of their child’s basic skills.
The Pulaski County Board of Education has adopted aggressive reading improvement goals. All students are tested during the first weeks of the school year in order to determine which students are not reading at grade level. Through grants and focused funding, our teachers, assistants, and even parents have received training and materials at levels never previously known. This training has resulted in an “army” of educators and parents who are equipped to help their children and students learn to read.
Curriculum specialists are working in our elementary schools to further improve early education instruction. These curriculum specialists have been charged with the task of clearly identifying students who need additional reading services and making sure children receive these services. The specialists assess students to determine exactly what skills each child needs to improve and help classroom teachers develop individual plans to meet each child’s needs.
The Pulaski County School System strongly believes that the early grades are the key to future success and reading in particular gives children the solid academic foundation needed for higher learning. We are continually working to enhance and strengthen our learning opportunities. With these early education initiatives we reaffirm our dedication of providing an education of superior quality.