Education

Vision for Education

A community system of learning and education that prepares students for fulfilling and productive lives, and significantly improves the region's quality of life and economy.

10-Year Outcomes and Goals:

Establish and support a comprehensive post-secondary education program encompassing bachelor, masters, and Ph.D. degrees that are relevant to the region's economic development initiatives.
Initiative underway to formally partner CBC with WSUTC creating a 4-year seamless educational program in the regional community.

Key Measures of Success Over 10 Years:

Key strategies adopted and implemented by early childhood care providers. A general community awareness achieved through key messages on early childhood development.
An accredited comprehensive higher education program exists locally to provide opportunities for academic degrees from undergraduate through graduate levels.
A fully articulated K through 16 education system exists within the Three Rivers region.

Accomplishments During 2003:

Community group to examine the potential of establishing a university in the Tri-Cities.
Committee is currently being identified with a meeting scheduled within the next month.
Specific goal to develop a business plan that would document the need for a university in the Tri-Cities, identify a methodology for achieving the goal, and complete a cost analysis - by July 2004.

Regional Educational Council

K-12 Education, Mid-Columbia Education Alliance (MCEA)

Vision for Regional Educational Council

A nonprofit partnership supported by business, community, and educational leaders in the Mid-Columbia region, MCEA works to increase awareness and understanding of Washington's efforts to improve student learning.

MCEA was restructured in the spring of 2002 in order to more effectively accomplish its mission.

Accomplishments During 2002-2003:

MCEA sponsored a program series entitled Public Education Today...Enhanced Learning for all Students. All events were free and open to the public.

November 2002, Living, Learning and Working in the 21st Century, featuring Dr. William H. Schmidt, Michigan State University.
February 2003, Education Responds, featuring Dr. Terry Bergeson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
April 2003, Tri-Cities Responds to the Call for Action, a partnership with the Tri-City Area Chamber of Commerce. Attendees participated in small group discussions with educational leaders from local school districts.
May 2003, Annual Recognition Breakfast honoring teachers and community leaders for their efforts to increase student achievement.

Topical articles written by members of the local community were solicited by MCEA and published in the Tri-City Herald prior to each event.

Accomplishments During 2003-2004:

This year's program focuses on one specific topic: Washington State's New Graduation Requirements that include, beginning with the class of 2008, passing the 10th grade Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) in order to graduate.

MCEA's Executive Director is speaking on this topic at approximately 20 local service clubs and other organizations.
A program series is also planned focusing on this topic:

November 2003, featuring Brian Jeffries, Division of Curriculum and Instruction, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
April 14, 2004, featuring Dr. Terry Bergeson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
May 11, 2004, Annual Recognition Breakfast honoring teachers and community leaders for their efforts to increase student achievement.

One newspaper article on this topic was written by the Mid-Columbia Education Alliance and published in the Tri-City Herald prior to the November program. A second article is planned for the spring.

Regional Educational Council

Early Childhood Development Education, Success By 6®

Vision for Regional Educational Council

"Bringing our community together to identify and address unmet developmental needs of children ages 0-6."

Long-Term Goals of Initiative:

Widespread community understanding of the need for the healthy development of our young children.
Creating partnerships to increase efficiency and impact.
Educating caregivers and parents about best practices.
Overcoming system barriers to services.
Leveraging funding sources.

Accomplishments During 2003:

Local media partners continue to communicate key early childhood development messages through public service announcements, vignettes, and news articles. Two examples, KNDU-25 television developed new series of vignettes using early brain development research materials targeting parents. Tri-City Herald continues to provide advertisement space for many community organizations providing services for children and families; and supports great community events including Family a-Fair and National Family Week.
Collaborated with several organizations to provide training and education on several early childhood development issues. Leveraged time, talent, and funding resources to accomplish goals.
Organizations include: CBC, Mid-Columbia Reading Foundation, Benton Franklin Volunteer Center, Benton Franklin Health District, Benton Franklin Infant Toddler Program, Benton Franklin Head Start, Catholic Family and Child Service, WSU Cooperative Extension, Safe Schools/Healthy Kids program, Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP), Council for Children & Youth, and Comprehensive Health Education Foundation (CHEF).
Selected Highlights: "Loving, Listening, Learning - Everyday moments Count" pilot project, which utilized child-care providers as a conduit to get key early learning messages to parents.
"Community Resource Outreach Team," a home-visitation team that provides onsite visits with both parents and child-care providers and provides a variety of services from developmental screenings to best-practices early learning.
"Mayor's Summit - Little Kids, Big Plans." This breakfast meeting included three speakers, Matt Taylor from the Tri-City Herald, Lynn Fielding from Kennewick School District Board, and Elaine Von Rosenstiel from the League of Educational Voters Foundation. They talked about the life-long impact on a child's development in its first six years to an audience of 40+ community leaders.
The promotion of "National Family Week" (11-23 to 11-29-03) occurred within several school districts including family nights at various schools. Richland, Kennewick, and Pasco Mayors continued its time-honored presentation of proclaiming the week of Thanksgiving "Family Week." In addition, the "National Family Volunteer Day" event began this year 11-22-03. Over 90 family members participated in making meal tray tags for hospital patients, hot chocolate packets for Meals on Wheels clients, and memory books for children in foster care.
The Success By 6® Committee and Advisory Council met during the summer to determine the top system changes needed in our community to help young children grow up in a nurturing and enriching environment. The top three focus areas include: (1) child development (for all children, all ages, all families, all cultures, all socio-economic levels), (2) parent education (all socio-economic levels, all cities, counties), and (3) quality child care through provider training/education.

Spring 2003 Workshop Update (PDF 18kb)