Preschool emphasis reduces problems later; Massachusetts: Somerville School District.

Somerville School District in Somerville, Mass., found a way to reduce problems in schools by helping to ensure support for children before they ever reach school age.

School district officials and representatives of public and private agencies met to discuss the major concerns of families with young children and determined that the most pressing issue was the lack of high-quality, affordable and accessible early-care and education programs. The group decided to collaborate on a solution and set as its primary goals to:

* Create a system of services to provide needed care.

* Increase collaboration among school, public and private programs.

* Reach out to involve the increasingly diverse population in Somerville.

In 1986, the city was predominantly a white, working-class community. Today its population includes a multitude of immigrant families, with 49 percent of the children in the school system coming from homes where English is not the primary language. Among the district's families, more than 50 languages are represented.

The Early Childhood Advisory Council, established to lead the effort, consists of school, public and private agency representatives, parents of young children and others in the community. Its members are from a wide range of organizations and agencies involved in early care, education, health and social services.

The council has formal bylaws and permanent co-chairs from the school district and a community-based, early-childhood program. It conducts annual needs-assessment surveys, sets goals for implementation and oversees fulfillment of its mission and program evaluation.

The council, whose work resulted in the school district being named the 2006 Massachusetts state winner in the National Civic Star Award competition, has achieved much in providing young children and their families a chance to engage in learning activities that support their development and school readiness. Among the programs that have been established are:

* Free full-day preschool for children in the Somerville School District, including a special-needs program.

* Free full-day kindergarten for children in the public schools.

* A citywide Early Head Start Program.

* Family support programs, including school-based parent resource rooms, family literacy programs, parenting and adult education classes.

* Language-appropriate, home-visiting programs to encourage early learning.

* Five new early education and care programs, including the new Somerville Public Schools Early Childhood Center.

* A citywide system for resource referral for all families.

In addition, the schools obtained increased subsidies for enrollment of children in private and public agency preschool programs. School and public and private agency programs also received accreditation by the National Association of Education of Young Children.

Since the Early Childhood Advisory Council's inception, the percentage of children attending preschool before entering kindergarten has increased from less than 30 percent to 90 percent. Teachers say children are entering kindergarten better prepared to learn and with better language skills. They also note that children are getting along better with their peers.

Principals and special-education administrators report anecdotal evidence that shows the extended preschool hours have significantly assisted in reducing the number of grade repeaters and special-education referrals for academic deficiencies in the primary grades. The increase in family-literacy, home-visiting and adult-education programs has produced a notable rise in the involvement of minority parents and families in school.

The council plans to continue building a seamless continuum of care for all children and their families to enhance school readiness. In addition, it aims to keep increasing capacity for a universal early education and care system. It will use its collaborative strength to build new partnerships with other stakeholders in the Somerville community and to foster collaboration with neighboring school districts and communities.

For more information, contact Assistant Superintendent Marie B. Ferrari at Somerville School District, 181 Washington St., Somerville, Mass. 02143, or call [phone], Ext. 6013. Ferrari's e-mail address is [e-mail].