Kindergarten Readiness in DeKalb County
In 2003, the DeKalb County Community Foundation launched its CommunityWorks Initiative to serve as a catalyst for community-driven change in early care and education, workforce development, and land use. With input from town hall meetings and stakeholder groups, the Foundation identified critical needs and opportunities throughout the county.
In 2008, the first CommunityWorks Early Care and Education Initiative addressed the quality, availability, and affordability of child care in DeKalb County, IL, while increasing support from the business community. This led to a 2011 Child Care Summary and an impact plan that concluded in 2013.
In 2014, a county-wide Advancing DeKalb County survey reaffirmed early childhood education as a top priority for residents. As a result, the Foundation sharpened its focus on kindergarten readiness, aligning local efforts with national and statewide initiatives to support children and families during this vital early transition.
Ongoing commitment to early care and education is made possible through 20 CommunityWorks Funds, which collectively generate over $100,000 annually. Thank you to the generous donors who help make this work possible!
Initiative Overview
The DeKalb County Community Foundation recognizes the critical importance of supporting young children and their families during the transition from early childhood to kindergarten—a key milestone in long-term school and life success.
Kindergarten readiness refers to a child’s preparedness across five key developmental areas:
Social and emotional development
Approaches to learning
Language and literacy skills
Cognitive and foundational skills
Physical and motor development
In DeKalb County, the Kindergarten Readiness Initiative is led by the DeKalb County Collaborative for Young Children, under the direction of the DeKalb County Regional Office of Education. Members include representatives from the DeKalb County Community Foundation, Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C), Family Service Agency, Northwestern Medicine, Children’s Home & Aid, Basics DeKalb County, DeKalb County Health Department, local educators, and community leaders.
Thanks to the Collaborative’s dedication, priorities have been set, goals identified, and plans implemented—all aimed at giving DeKalb County’s youngest residents a strong start.
For more information and to support early care and education initiatives, please contact Grants & Community Initiatives Director Jolene Willis at 815-748-5383 or j.willis@dekalbccf.org.
Kindergarten Readiness Results
DeKalb County Kindergarten Readiness Study
The DeKalb County Kindergarten Readiness Study offers valuable insight to inform local efforts in preparing young children for success in school and life. Completed in 2017, the study provides a county-wide baseline of what kindergarten readiness looks like in DeKalb County.
Kindergarten Readiness Toolkits
Kindergarten Readiness Toolkits are designed to help families prepare their children for the important transition from pre-K to kindergarten. Thanks to generous donor support, toolkits are available at no cost to educators working with pre-kindergarten-age children across DeKalb County.
Each box includes a book, dry erase board and marker, crayons, sidewalk chalk, scissors, DeKalb County Farm Bureau Matching Game, dice, play-doh, a notebook, and information on Basics DeKalb County. Toolkits are provided through a grant from the Community Foundation in partnership with the DeKalb County Farm Bureau, School Tool Box, and Thrivent.
In 2020, the DeKalb County Collaborative for Young Children introduced short companion videos featuring local kindergarten teachers demonstrating how to use each toolkit item. These engaging videos are available in both English and Spanish.
Educators may request as many toolkits as needed—no grant application required. For additional information, please contact Grants & Community Initiatives Director Jolene Willis at 815-748-5383 or j.willis@dekalbccf.org.
Basics DeKalb County
Basics DeKalb County is a county-wide initiative rooted in The Boston Basics—five simple, powerful, research-based practices that support early brain development in children from birth to age three. These nurturing practices help all infants and toddlers thrive cognitively, socially, and emotionally.
Coordinated by the DeKalb County Regional Office of Education, the program aims to reach every parent and caregiver with the message that everyday moments are learning moments.
January 2019
The Community Foundation hired a new Community Engagement Director upon the retirement of Program Director Anita Zurbrugg. At this time, the convening of the Kindergarten Readiness Working Group was shifted to the DeKalb County Regional Office of Education.
March 2019
The Kindergarten Readiness Working Group became the Kindergarten Readiness Collaborative. Each of the agencies represented in the collaborative continue to formulate how the Basics DeKalb County can be implemented in their plans and staff development training. Evaluation tools were collected and discussed to determine the most effective implementation strategy.
April 2019
The ROE hired a Basics DeKalb County coordinator to oversee county-wide saturation efforts to ensure all communities are educated on the DeKalb County Basics and ways to implement them into daily life.
The ROE held a Basics DeKalb County ambassadors meeting. The meeting was designed to saturate the community and build awareness in various sectors across DeKalb County. The Kindergarten Readiness Toolkit Grant program undergoes changes to improve the process and efficiency.
May 2019
The ROE hosted an Early Learning Summit which included early learning educators from the county. There was an update on the Kindergarten Readiness Collaborative and Kindergarten Readiness Toolkit Grant program. The Basics DeKalb County was officially launched. The Family Success Program at the ROE was introduced at this meeting.
Summer 2019
Basics DeKalb County saturation efforts were focused on summer reading programs at libraries throughout DeKalb County. In partnership with the DeKalb Park District, United Way, and Target, DeKalb County’s first Born Learning Trail was built in Lion’s Park, DeKalb. The Basics DeKalb County will be the final sign on the trail as a way to increase awareness in the community.
The Community Foundation hosted a meeting of Kindergarten Readiness Toolkit grantees. The group exchanged ideas, strategy, and implementation practices regarding the toolkits.
January 2018
The Community Foundation gave a grant to the DeKalb County Regional Office of Education (ROE) to provide coordination for early childhood related services and for priority issue areas:
- Establish and implement the process and framework for the transition from early learning to kindergarten, including family engagement
- Facilitate ongoing collaboration between early learning, pre-school, and kindergarten educators
- Provide professional development opportunities relevant to evidence-based curriculum development, instructional strategies, child development, or child wellness including trauma-informed practices and social emotional learning
- Determine and facilitate common assessment tools for kindergarten readiness, including consideration of using KIDS (Kindergarten Individual Development Survey)
February 2018
The Kindergarten Readiness Toolkit Grant program was created. This new grant program supports educators in the purchase of toolkits for pre-kindergarten age children around DeKalb County. All school districts in DeKalb County are eligible to apply for a grant to support the development of their own toolkits.
May 2018
The DeKalb County Health Department arranged for 210 free copies of the DVD Leap Frog Letter Factory for distribution to families visiting the Health Department in anticipation of their child attending kindergarten in the fall. A Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten insert was created to accompany the DVD. The goal was to encourage families to work with their children on critical skills for success in kindergarten.
June 2018
June 19 – The ROE hosted The Basics presentation by Dr. Ron Ferguson, founder of The Boston Basics. Over 80 early childhood stakeholders (educators and youth service providers) attended with initial discussion of how a similar program might be implemented throughout DeKalb County.
June 26 – A third early learning summit was held at the ROE. Focus of the summit included Kindergarten Readiness Initiative updates, opportunities for early care educators to share programs and initiatives, and discussion on the adoption and promotion of The Basics in DeKalb County among attendees.
July 2018
July 5 – The Kindergarten readiness Working Group (KRWG) unanimously decided to integrate the Basics DeKalb County into the DeKalb County Kindergarten Readiness Initiative.
July 26 – The KRCWG presented an update of the Kindergarten Readiness Initiative to the DeKalb County Community Foundation Board of Directors. Included within this initiative are plans to develop a Basics DeKalb County campaign to saturate the community with supporting our youngest members and their families throughout their earliest years. Board members expressed resounding support to move forward with the initiative.
August 2018
The KRCWG proceeds with plans to secure funding support for Basics DeKalb County and determine the degree to which KIDS can be used as a baseline measurement for DeKalb County’s Kindergarten Readiness.
September 2018
Trittenhaus Design in Sycamore was commissioned to create the Basics DeKalb County logo. New logo follows branding of The Boston Basics.
November 2018
$100,000 in funding received from the Robert R. McCormick Foundation to create community saturation for the Basics DeKalb County. Funding provides an opportunity for a new full time Basics DeKalb County Coordinator position.
DeKalb County Health Department IPLAN and DeKalb County Health Needs Assessment incorporates Basics DeKalb County in their implementation plans and their health care professional development training.
February 2017
A Defining Kindergarten Readiness Workshop was facilitated by Amy Jo Clemens of the NIU Center for P20 Engagement. 61 early care and kindergarten educators and other early learning professionals attended.
Value Statement: When schools, early childhood educators, families, community service providers, and policy makers work collaboratively and involve families as their child’s first teachers, child development is enhanced and inequities in early life experience are addressed so that all children have access to opportunities that promote success.
Kindergarten Readiness actions result in:
- Appropriate social and emotional development
- Positive approaches to learning
- Strong language and literacy
- Basic cognition and foundational skills
- Healthy motor and physical development
April 2017
An online survey was created by the Kindergarten Readiness Working Group (KRWG) through NIU Center for Governmental Studies and disseminated to all early learning educators and care givers in DeKalb County.
June 2017
The very first Early Learning Summit was held at the DeKalb County Regional Office of Education (ROE). Approximately 26 early care and kindergarten educators attended. Attendees shared programs and projects of interest and extended discussion from the Defining Kindergarten Readiness Workshop.
August 2017
Working with results from the December 2016 survey, the NIU Center for Governmental Studies and the NIU Center for P20 Engagement created the DeKalb County Kindergarten Readiness Study. The study provided a baseline to help launch the initiative.
October 2017
The second Early Learning Summit was held at the ROE. During this summit, the Kindergarten Readiness Study and survey findings were presented. Attendees signed on to work in areas of interest with organizational “backbones” identified to coordinate and lead each issue area:
- Common Standards and Assessment for Kindergarten Readiness across DeKalb County
- Pre-K to Kindergarten Transition
- Pre-K and Kindergarten Ongoing Collaboration
- Kindergarten Readiness Toolkits (individual school districts, county wide and early child age)
- Family Engagement
- Home Visiting – Comprehensive and coordinated intake coordinated with families
- Comprehensive Pre-K screening, including Trauma Screening by age 3
December 2017
KRCWG members attended the Mastering KIDS Summit in Chicago – Every Illinois Child Ready for Kindergarten, receiving an update of how KIDS was being implemented in Illinois and learning about The Boston Basics program.
The first Childhood Trauma meeting was held, coordinated by the DeKalb County Mental Health Board and Juvenile Justice Council. Screening children by the age of three was the priority area identified.
May 2016
The Kindergarten Readiness Working Group (KRCWG) was formed. The KRCWG was composed of Community Foundation staff and board members, early care and kindergarten educators, and professionals working with youth. The purpose of the KRCWG was to develop and guide a county-wide Kindergarten Readiness initiative based upon the collective impact model.
December 2016
The KRCWG contracted with the NIU Center for Governmental Studies and the NIU Center for P20 Engagement to conduct a background assessment of kindergarten readiness in DeKalb County, including the following research questions:
- What is kindergarten readiness and why does it matter?
- How ready are DeKalb County’s kindergartners?
- What is the existing DeKalb County system for preparing our children for kindergarten?
- As a county, what strategies should we pursue and prioritize to maintain or improve our children’s Kindergarten Readiness
Working with the results of this assessment, NIU Center for Governmental Studies went on to create the DeKalb County Kindergarten Readiness Study, released in August 2017.
Through a community wide Advancing DeKalb County survey, the Community Foundation learned that youth and early education was a high priority to residents in each of the communities throughout DeKalb County.
Along with this information, the supporting children and their families in the youngest years across the transition from birth to kindergarten is one of the best investments the community foundation could extend to communities throughout the county. High quality early childhood care and education has been well-documented and researched as having a positive educational impact, improving health and welfare, increasing lifetime earnings, enhancing societal contributions, and providing a significant return on dollars invested. Likewise, the negative impact of poverty and trauma on early childhood indicators such as mother and child health, mental health, and development are equally well-documented.
The Community Foundation decided to focus its resources to address kindergarten readiness in DeKalb County joining similarly focused and recognized national, state, and local initiatives.
Childcare Impact Plan Initiative
Though the first CommunityWorks Early Care and Education Impact Plan officially concluded in 2013, its influence continues to shape child care efforts across DeKalb County. The plan focused on improving the quality, availability, and affordability of child care, while also encouraging greater involvement from the business community.
This foundational work helped build momentum for ongoing initiatives—like the Kindergarten Readiness focus and Basics DeKalb County—that continue to support young children and families today.
QRS and the Child Care Summary
Early in this process, the Community Foundation partnered with 4-C (Community Coordinated Child Care) to implement the Quality Counts: Quality Rating System (QRS). The QRS assists Illinois child care programs in providing quality care for children and their families.
After the initial results from the QRS, the DeKalb County Community Foundation and the Community Foundation for McHenry County partnered with 4-C to hire a Quality Rating Systems specialist to work with local child care providers to enhance quality and achieve star ratings.
Grants issued in 2008-2012 enabled child care programs to enhance the care they provide while at the same time positioning programs to receive additional state funding to further enhance their programs.
Between 2010 and 2012, over $1 million was received by programs in DeKalb County from leveraging Community Foundation funding. All eligible nonprofit centers in DeKalb County achieved star ratings and DeKalb County is home to two of the six Star 4 rated child care centers in Illinois.
A $9,550 grant from the DeKalb County Community Foundation enabled 4-C (Community Coordinated Child Care) to meet the increased need of consultation and training of DeKalb County’s nonprofit child care centers in preparation for the Illinois Quality Rating and Improvement System (CRIS). Going forward, 4-C has been able to sustain the specialist position without need for Community Foundation support.
In partnership with 4-C (Community Coordinated Child Care), the DeKalb County Community Foundation continued to fund the Quality Rating System (QRS) specialist position. The QRS position worked with eligible child care programs to assist in preparation for improved Quality Rating System Star ratings.
- A second child care center in DeKalb County achieved a Star 4 QRS rating. Achieving two of the four Star 4 rated child care centers in the state of Illinois.
- Approximately 647 children benefited from increased quality of care by attending a QRS Star rated child care center.
- DeKalb County centers received an additional $255,622 in revenue in 2011 as a result of their star rating.
By the end of 2010, seven child care centers in DeKalb County received either a Star 2 or Star 3 rating with the support of Quality Rating System (QRS) specialist position. As of March 2011, DeKalb County centers received an additional $481,478 in revenue as a result of their Star rating.
When compared to the original investment from CommunityWorks support, there was an approximate return of $5.22 on every $1 spent. Over 5 times the original investment!
$10,000 in Quality Enhancement Grants were awarded to five child care centers to increase preparedness for star rating and/or accreditation.
- NIU Campus Child Care - $2,498
- Children’s Learning Center - $2,374
- The Growing Place - $2,443
- NIU FCNS Child Development Lab - $294
- Kishwaukee College Early Childhood Center - $2,391
Approximately 695 children benefited from increased quality of care by attending a QRS Star rated child care center.
The DeKalb County Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of McHenry County continued their partnership to fund the 4-C (Community Coordinated Child Care) Quality Rating System (QRS) specialist position.
- By the end of 2009, seven child care centers received either a Star 2 or Star 3 rating, one center continues to work actively toward receiving a Star rating, and $182,239 in additional revenue was received by centers from the state of Illinois as a result of their Star rating.
- $10,000 in Quality Enhancement Grants was awarded to six child care centers to increase preparedness for star rating and/or accreditation.
- In June, 4-C co-hosted a business round table with DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation; “A Look at Quality Child Care and its Linkage to Economic Development”.
The Community Foundation's commitment and support to early care and education is supported by 20 CommunityWorks Funds, collectively generating over $100,000 annually. We sincerely thank the generous donors whose support makes this work possible.
