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TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS *:' CONTRA
*! �* COSTA
FROM: John Sweeten
COUNTY
County Administrator
0
DATE: March 1, 2005
Coves
SUBJECT: Early Reading First Program
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION(S):
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the County Administrator, or designee, to join as a collaborative partner on a
pre-application and an application submitted by the Mt. Diablo Unified School District to the U.S.
Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, "Early Reading First Program."
BACKGROUND/REASON(S) FOR RECOMMENDATION(S):
The Early Reading First Program will provide up to $4,500,000 to awardees to support local efforts to
enhance the oral language, cognitive, and early reading skills of preschool-age children especially those
from low-income families, through strategies, materials, and professional development that are grounded
in scientifically based reading research.
This program is a progressive approach to improving literacy by serving the most disadvantaged
populations through four Head Start preschools and one domestic violence preschool. This collaboration
will provide the basis for further dissemination of the RALE program to a larger network of preschools,
building toward a countywide foundation to prepare all children (including trauma impacted children) to
successfully enter K-12 schools. Exposure to violence and trauma-related distress in young children has
been associated with lower academic grades, and with substantial decrements in IQ and reading
achievement. Low-income youth are also at greater risk for exposure to community violence and family
violence.
Since its inception, the Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence Initiative (ZTDV) has been recognized for its
innovation in the area of system change through a comprehensive, coordinated, community-wide approach
that interrupts the progressive cycle of violence, recognizing the cost effectiveness of integrated and
collaborative service strategies.
Joining Mt. Diablo's application supports the Initiative's efforts to develop interventions and supports for
children who have witnessed or experienced domestic violence.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
_,,,&�ROVE OTHER
SIGNATURES •`_"
ACTIO
N OF BOARD O APPROVED AS RECOMMENDEDOTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
/ I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A
UNANIMOUS(ABSENT TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN
AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ON MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
Contact: Devorah Levine 335-1017
ATTESTED
JOHN SWEETEW CLERK OF
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
cc:Devorah Levine,CAO
BY