About Us
The Jefferson Ready Start Network is a coalition of individuals committed to creating and implementing a bold local vision for early childhood. We are driven by our community’s need to improve opportunities and inspire change for children birth to age five in our parish.
The Jefferson Ready Start Network brings together partners to continuously improve the quality of and access to early childroom opportunities in our community. We are driven by local data and context to develop intentional plans, secure and weave together resources and implement creative solutions.
The Jefferson Parish School District is the lead agency for the Jefferson Ready Start Network. The work of the Ready Start Network is directed by a coalition of Thought Partners (community leaders from multiple sectors) and supported by a Core Leadership Team (early childhood stakeholders).
Mission
The Jefferson Parish Ready Start Network aims to create a culture of high quality, comprehensive early childhood services through engagement and partnerships with families, educators and community members.
Vision
All children birth to age five in Jefferson Parish have access to quality early childhood experiences that will prepare them to succeed.
Early Childhood Education is:
AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUE:
In the short term, employers incur a direct loss of $816 million a year due to lost workforce productivity (absenteeism and turnover)*
*https://www.brylskicompany.com/uploads/1/7/4/0/17400267/losing_ground-1.pdf
In the long-term, for every $1 invested in quality early childhood, the state yields a $7.30 return on investment, which makes it an effective use of state dollars. Early childhood education is short and long-term economic development for the state because it supports the workforce of today and the workforce of tomorrow.
Jefferson Ready Start Network supports quality early childhood education. This means that ALL CHILDREN, wherever they receive care, are in a SAFE, CARING, NURTURING environment with qualified professionals that help children successfully engage the world around them.
Jefferson Parish Early Childhood Education Snapshot
JEFFERSON PARISH CHILDREN & FAMILIES
- 28,000 children birth to age 5
- 15,000 – 25,000 children birth to age 5 are economically disadvantaged (100-200% FPL)
- Approximately 4,500 children birth to 5 are served in publicly funded seats
- Less than 10% of the eligible infants and toddlers are in care
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS
- More than 600 early learning educators
- More than 122 early childhood sites
- 44% of teachers hold Louisiana Certifications
- 36% of early childhood teachers don’t have a degree
Where children are served in Jefferson Parish
Blueprint for the Future
Jefferson Ready Start Network is a coalition committed to creating and implementing a bold local vision for early childhood driven by the needs of our community to improve opportunities and inspire change for children birth to age 5 in Jefferson Parish.
Anticipated Outcomes
- The ability to systematically gather, analyze and share early childhood education information to make resource decisions
- Increased number of children birth to age three in high-quality early childhood education settings
- Improved quality in early childhood education
- Decreased waiting lists for families to access child care
- New and sustained funding for early childhood education
Thought Partners
Dr. Allison Trigg, Ms. Allison Sharai, Mr. Ajit Pethe, Mr. Chad Nugent, Ms. Charmaine Caccioppi – Chair, Ms. Chloe Wiley, Ms. Donna Austin, Ms. Erin Thompson, Dr. Gina Easterly, Ms. Ileana Ledet – Vice-Chair, Dr. James Gray, Mr. Jerry Bologna, Mr. Jim Garvey, Mr. John Fitzpatrick, Ms. Kate Wendel, Dr. Keith Leiderman, Dr. Libbie Sonnier, Ms. Lisa Barback, Ms. Ruth Lawson, Mr. Scott Walker, Mr. Todd Murphy
Adjunct Members
Ms. Caroline Starlight, Ms. Monique Rouege, Ms. Paula Polito