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Your Gift Gets Children Ready for School
When Derrick started childcare at First Place for Children, he had few social skills and was unable to communicate. He would spin in circles. He couldn’t sit still. He bit other children and could not follow directions.
Less than half the children entering kindergarten in Washington State are prepared socially and emotionally to learn.
United Way of Pierce County, in collaboration with many community partners, is working hard to help ensure our children are ready to learn upon entering school. Together in 2006, we launched the Devereaux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA) Program in Pierce County.
DECA is a scientifically tested and nationally accepted system for improving school readiness. The program educates childcare staff and parents on strategies to equip children to learn. The childcare teachers trained through the DECA pilot program will help ensure an additional 200 children this year are ready to learn upon entering kindergarten.
Fortunately for Derrick, he got the special attention needed to help him catch up on his social development. His teacher taught him sign language so he could communicate. They also helped him learn the class rules and how to interact with other children.
You & United Way—Changing Reality
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