Abstract

Project Title: Ready Kids Initiative

Applicant Organization: Commonwealth of Kentucky

High-Need Communities: Jefferson County (7 high needs zip codes), Northern Kentucky (8 

high needs districts), Southeastern Kentucky Promise Zone (5 high needs districts)

Subgrantees: Jefferson County Public Schools, United Way of Greater Cincinnati’s Success by 

6®, KCEOC and LKLP

Overview of the proposed project: Our commitment through the Ready Kids Initiative is clear: 

we will increase the quality of and access to High-Quality Preschool Programs in High-Need 

Communities.

Proposed project outcomes, goals and objectives: The RKI will increase the number of 

Eligible Children served in High-Quality Preschool Programs during each year of the grant 

period through the creation of 2,027 new slots and the improvement of 1,686 existing preschool 

slots. All new preschool slots created by our Subgrantees will have all the characteristics 

specified in the definition of High-Quality Preschool Programs. The State and Subgrantees have 

identified areas of improvement needed in existing preschool slots and will work together to 

improve the quality of existing slots so that they meet the High-Quality definition.

Ready Kids Initiative (RKI) Goals and Objectives

Goal #1 Increase access to High-Quality Preschool Programs Program for at-risk 4-year-olds 

in High-Need Communities

Objective 1.1: Increase the availability of new 

High-Quality Preschool Program slots

 # of NEW full day slots 

 # of NEW full day slots with IECE 

teacher

 # of NEW slots that align with 

definition of quality 

 # of NEW slots that conform to class 

size ratio 

 # of NEW slots that have educators 

who access evidence-based 

professional development

 # of NEW slots that provide 

comprehensive services

Objective 1.2: Improve the quality of existing 

slots in High-Need Communities

 # of IMPROVED full day slots 

 # of IMPROVED full day slots with 

IECE teacher 

 # of IMPROVED slots that align with 

definition of quality 

 # of IMPROVED slots that conform to 

class-size ratio 
Ready Kids Initiative (RKI) Goals and Objectives

 # of IMPROVED slots that have 

 educators who access evidence-based 

professional development

 # of IMPROVED slots that provide 

comprehensive services

Goal #2 Improve early childhood workforce competency in High-Need Communities

Objective 2.1: Increase the number of IECE 

degrees for lead teachers

 # of teachers who obtain IECE 

degrees 

 #of continuing education hours that 

lead teachers access

Objective 2.2: Increase the number of CDA 

certification for teacher’s aides

 # of aides who earn CDA certification

 # of continuing education for certified 

teacher’s aides

Goal #3 Increase the Kindergarten readiness of at-risk children in High-Need Communities

Objective 3.1 Increase the number of children 

who screen as ready in Social Emotional and 

Self Help

 increase % of children who screen as 

ready for Social Emotional and Self 

Help

Objective 3.2 Increase the number of children 

who screen as ready in Cognitive and General 

Knowledge

 increase % of children who screen as 

ready for Cognitive and General 

Knowledge

Objective 3.3 Increase the number of children 

who screen as ready in Language and 

Communication Skills

 increase % of children who screen as 

ready for Language and 

Communication Skills

Objective 3.4 Increase the number of children 

who screen as ready in Health and WellBeing

 increase % of children who screen as 

ready for Health and Well-Being

Goal #4 High-Quality Preschool Programs to be delivered in collaborative community models 

in High-Need Communities

Objective 4.1: Design collaborative models 

for High-Quality Preschool Programs 

 # schools districts that adopt 

collaborative models 

 # of children in mixed delivery 

programs

 # of families that can access 

community-based models for care

Objective 4.2: Remove barriers to 

collaborative models

 # schools districts that adopt 

collaborative models 

 # of children in mixed delivery 

programs

 # of families that can access 

community-based models for care

Objective 4.3: Provide technical assistance for 

early childhood programs for collaborative 

models

 # schools districts that adopt 

collaborative models 

 # of children in mixed delivery 

programs
Ready Kids Initiative (RKI) Goals and Objectives

 # of families that can access 

community based models for care