Figure 7: Readiness Model Components/Hierarchy [RF-1, RF-2,..., RF-16]
Definition: History has abundantly demonstrated that 'preparation' is a necessary road to success [however defined and measured]. The most important phase of 'preparation' is 'readiness': within and throughout the educational hierarchy, there exists a 'readiness to learn' at each step of this educational hierarchy. Of course, history has also demonstrated that the educational process includes the academic arena but also the real-world arena that lies just beyond the academic arena.
Description:: There exists an abundance of documented research and pragmatic efforts addressed to 'readiness' of the traditional educational process, i.e., pre-K, primary, middle & secondary schooling, college and university, specialized certifications and training. Greater detail for each of these efforts can be found in Learning and Teaching Readiness in Poverty & Despair versus Education & Opportunity, Breaking Down the Barriers and Building Bridges. As noted previously, both learning and teaching readiness must co-exist within any classroom setting! Much attention has been given to learning readiness but the growing spectrum of 'new' student populations and their educational needs mandates equal attention be afforded to teaching readiness!
Having said that, a more definitive list of those readiness model components/hierarchy shown in Figure 7 follow: Jeff: Figure 7 above is to be replaced by Fig below
RF-1: Pre-natal readiness [mother and child]: the at-birth health of a child is critically dependent upon both preconception and prenatal care. Such care serves to reduce the risks of pregnancy complications and the infant's risks for complications. Such care is readily available for those beyond the arena of poverty; however, for those living in poverty, this availability decreases significantly as the the impacts of poverty increase.
RF-2: Health care readiness [mother and child]: the importance of health care becomes increasingly important during the post-birth to pre-school years as a compensating factor for those poverty-induced stresses. Again, such availability is readily available for most of America's children but not necessarily so for those living in poverty.
RF-3: Consistent family advocacy and support readiness: historically, advocacy and support are readily available for those children who do not live in the arena of poverty. Conversely, It is not so available for those children who do! Both health and family advocacy and support are necessary for success for pre-K learning and readines, RF-4.
RF-4: Pre-K learning and readiness: this factor refers to the educationally meaningful preparation of children/students for the 'next step', i.e., RF-5. An insufficient level of preparation introduces risk for success in grades K-3, RF-5.
RF-5: Grades K-3 learning and readiness: similar to the definitions for RF-3 and RF-4, i.e., a level of preparation for entry/success and at the next step, grades 4-8, RF-6; conversely, insufficient preparation introduces an additional level of risk to the children's educational journey.
RF-6: Grades 4-8 learning and readiness: there is a developing trend that preparation at each level is the foundation for educational success at the next level. Simply put, there is a repeating educational trilogy: readiness + learning = preparation for educational mobility as the necessary foundation for upward mobility in the arena of life. As noted in Poverty & Despair versus Education & Opportunity, 'the road out of poverty goes to and through the schoolhouse door.'
RF-7: Grades 9-12 readiness + learning = preparation for RF-8 and RF-9, alternative education options and university/college educations, respectively.
RF-8: Alternative educational opportunities: for example, specific skills training, automotive certification, technical/technology skills, medical asistants [nursing, dental, physical therapy, graphic arts and design et al. Essentially, the alternative educations that enable stable employment with incomes above and beyond the arena of low wages. i.e., 'non-living wages'.
RF-9: University/college learning and readiness: this factor refers to the spectrum of university and college educational opportunities available to most Americans - but, sadly - like RF-8 - not readily avaible to those living in the arena of poverty. The spectrum of university/college opportunities includes associate, baccalaureate, masters and doctoral programs. A relevant factor is the linkage between the university/college program of choice and the opportunities for career employment and upward mobility.
RF-10: Life skills learning and readiness: whatever one's educational path may be, there remains an outstanding necessity/requirement to integrate [formally] a focus upon those life skills that support employment and upward mobility. This particular factor is crucial for those children/students that are on the road out of poverty.
RF-11: Techology and literacy learning and readiness: Both literacy and technology skills and applications need to be shaped to the needs of a specific student population throughout one's educational journey.
RF-12: Employment readines: This readiness factor includes educationally-based skills as well as life and societal skills as preparation for employment..
RF-13: Career/upward mobility readiness: This readiness factor includes some form of continuing education - including post-graduate studies, career relevant certifications, knowledge of organizational dynamics and an awareness [via professional journals and conferences].
RF-14: Societal participation/contribution readiness: As the world of an individual expands from the academic world to the career world and to the societal world at large, there is a willingness and readiness to be a contributing member of society for mentoring, advocacy and guidance much like that received by the individual; simply put, 'paying it forward'.
RF-15: Teaching readiness [Entire educational process]: as the spectrum of student populations increase, there is a collateral need for the development of teachers beyond the traditional schools in which children living in poverty are not common. For example, there is a growing need for Latino teachers, for instructors for those released, paroled or put on probation from imprisonment, for the inevitable migrants coming into America, etc.
RF-16: Advocacy and support [Throughout RF-1, RF-2, . . . , RF-15]: The advocacy and support readily available to those in the non-poverty world just isn't as available to so many living in poverty - the latter is a derivative of the spectrum of poverty-driven inequalities.
Keywords: Learning readiness, teaching readiness, educational preparation, educational advocacy, support and interventions, learning readiness as a life skill, children who do not attend school, expelled students, drop-outs, US children who never start school, school attendance, chronic absenteeism, 'showing up', the 'slippery slope' of the lack of readiness, employment readiness, readiness indicators, readiness metrics, readiness assessment.
Selected references;
1. On School Readiness, Where We Stand, National Association for the Education of Young Children [NAEYC].
2. What is School Readiness?, Attendance Works, Advancing Student Success by Reducing Chronic Absence, www.attendanceworks.org.
3. Parental Readiness & Empowerment Program [PREP], www. PREPparents org.
4. Poverty, Not Schools To Blame For Low Scores, Joseph H. Crowley, Commentary, Providence Journal, November 27, 2015.
5. We Need To Teach Teachers Better, John J> Colby, Commentary, providence Journal, January 1, 2016.
6. Technology Across the Curriculum, Albert M. Colella, PhD, ASEE Regional Conference, West Point, New York, April, 1996.
7. Robust K-16 System Key to Economy, Julia Steiny, The Providence Sunday Journal, Section H, May 25, 2003.
8. 10 Facts About School Attendance, www.attendanceworks.org.
9. Butterflies In the Hallway, BrookeHaycock, GAP Series, echoesfromthegap educationaltrust/butterfliesinthehallway.htmlJune 20, 2014.
10. To Improve Schools, Fight Poverty, Joseph H. Crowley, Commentary, Providence Journal, December 19, 2015.
11. Poverty & Despair versus Education & Opportunity, Learning and Teaching Readiness, Al Colella, Joseph H. Crowley, Stillwater River Publications, 2016.
12. The Education Inequality Struggle, Marian Wright Edelman's Child Watch Column, Children's defense Fund, December 11, 2015.