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Lorain City Schools tells board preschool redesign boosted kindergarten retention and earned 'gold' Step Up To Quality ratings
Summary
District preschool leaders described multi‑year work with Kent State, community partners and a Martha Holden Jennings grant to improve preschool classrooms, teacher training and family engagement; district reported rising preschool‑to‑kindergarten retention and Step Up To Quality gold ratings for its buildings.
Lorain City Schools preschool leaders told the school board on Aug. 25 that a deliberate redesign of preschool practice and community partnerships has led to higher kindergarten enrollment from district preschools, stronger kindergarten‑readiness scores and Step Up To Quality gold ratings for all district preschool buildings.
At a board meeting, preschool leaders Linda Goode and Alicia Barton described a three‑year collaboration with Kent State University's child development center, internal coaching, and a grant from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation that funded professional development and classroom observation. "We brought staff back after summer break. We did a couple team building activities, and just basically just wishes and expectations of what we want to see from students in our community," Barton said.
Why it matters: the district reported that among its own preschool attendees the rate showing kindergarten readiness (KRA assessment) is about 21 percentage points higher than for children who did not attend the district preschool program. Barton said the percentage of preschool attendees who enrolled in the district's kindergarten rose from 45% in 2023 to 75% in 2024 and about 81% for the latest year.
Program details and partnerships: the presenters outlined professional development cycles with Kent State (book studies, classroom observations, coaching), expanded PD attendance for paraprofessionals, and a focus on the classroom as an instructional environment (Reggio Emilia philosophy). The district also partners locally with the Lorain Public Library to circulate 20 literacy bins filled with books and manipulatives and with community organizations such as the Lorain Historical Society, the children's museum, Metroparks, Dance Cleveland and (planned) the Greater Cleveland Aquarium.
Step Up To Quality and early‑learning supports: Barton explained Step Up To Quality as Ohio's tiered quality rating system for early childhood programs and said all district preschool buildings have earned gold status under the system. The district scheduled evening, Ohio‑approved PD sessions for community providers to make Step Up To Quality PD more accessible.
Next steps: the presenters said the district plans to continue self‑assessments, goal setting, and family‑engagement work, to gradually reduce reliance on Kent State coaching while retaining collaborative supports, and to align kindergarten instruction more closely with Reggio Emilia‑informed preschool practice.
Ending: Board members thanked staff for the work. No policy vote was taken; the presentation was informational.
