Partnering for Prekindergarten Focus Groups with Child Care Directors

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 7:45 am - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: Allies or Agendas? The Politics of Educational Partnerships

Abstract

Most states provide public prekindergarten (preK) through a mixed delivery model in which local education agencies partner with community based organizations. This focus group study sought to learn from directors of one state preK program about their experiences partnering in a mixed delivery model. Eight focus groups were conducted with 37 child care and Head Start directors. It was found that many benefits of partnering are overshadowed by governance issues in which the expertise and knowledge of directors is undervalued. Relationships were often based on individual personnel rather than any systems approach. Directors recommended that policymakers create clear guidelines for LEAs about partnering, while at the local level they wanted more opportunities to be included in governance decision making.

Authors

• Sharon Ryan, Rutgers University

• Karin Garver, Rutgers University