How to Teach Preschoolers Skills for the National Reporting System Evaluation

The NRS, or National Reporting System, is an evaluation of preschoolers involved in Head Start preschools. No Child Left Behind mandates that all federally funded education programs show that students are making progress while in school. Head Start preschools is covered under that mandate. Funding is tied to the progress students are making while enrolled in an education program or school. Empowering preschoolers to learn necessary skills and maintaining a developmentally appropriate learning atmosphere is a challenge for most Head Start preschool classrooms.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. The National Report System was an effort by Head Start to show literacy progress in 4-year-old Head Start students. The NRS was developed in 2003 in response to the No Child Left Behind program. This program is controversial due to practical issues as well as its failure to address portions of the Head Start program. NRS is a work in progress but seems to be a part of Head Start for some length. Individual programs have to address the NRS evaluations.

2. Know what outcomes the NRS is seeking. Major outcomes addressed in the evaluation include comprehension of spoken English, vocabulary, letter naming and early mathematics. Each specific area is measured in a standardized manner.

3. Change classroom methods. Head Start is a quality program. Because of the focus on the total child and his family; Head Start has been successful at affecting the child’s future. However, the focus has shifted from a play based program to a literacy based program. Accept the challenge and add more literacy activities to each day's lesson plan.

4. Continue to involve parents. Develop additional strategies to involve families in teaching the literacy and math skills. Parents want their children to do well. Get to know parents well enough to motivate their involvement.

5. Keep up the good work. Head Start Preschool does valuable work with a difficult population. The constraints put on Head Start programs by the NRS adds more duties to a staff that is already hardworking. Without staff that is dedicated, families an children will suffer.