School Readiness - Richland - Children's Coalition

1	Explore the options and choose your preferred schools.
2	Click on the Apply Now link above to complete a school choice application. You may choose from 1 to 3 schools. You must rank your choices (1,2,3) in the order of your preference.
3	Check your email and/or dashboard for offers and wait list updates. If you have not received an email, please check your email account’s spam/junk filter. It is highly recommended that you periodically log into your account to check your dashboard for updates.

Contact Us:

For questions concerning specific programs or your application, please click on the Early Childhood Sites tab for a list of contacts.

For specific questions about the RICH Network please click on the Contact Us tab.

School Readiness

School readiness is more than knowing letters and numbers. There are only 2,000 days between the time a baby is born and when that child shows up for the first day of kindergarten. Experiences during these 2,000 days have a lasting impact on later learning, health and success.

School Readiness requires access to opportunities

All families of young children need access to resources that will allow them to give their children the relationships and experiences that promote school readiness.
High-quality early education programs provide the foundation for school readiness and must be available to all young children and families.
Early intervention efforts support children who may be at risk for later school failure. These efforts are most effective when they offer many services rather than simply addressing isolated skills.

School Readiness must be broadly defined

Young children develop in different ways and at different rates. Readiness does not happen at the same time or in the same way for all children.
All areas of children's development and learning must be included in talking about readiness. Readiness is more than basic knowledge of learning to read and do math, important as these are. Readiness includes all areas: physical, cognitive, social, and emotional competence as well as positive attitudes toward learning.
Readiness is much more than a child's readiness. Readiness includes ready children, ready families, ready communities, ready early care and education, and ready schools. All are necessary so that all children will experience success.

A Kindergarten Child:

Has self-confidence
Is friendly
Develops relationships with peers and adults
Concentrates and persists on challenging tasks
Effectively communicates
Listens to instructions and solves problems
Solves social problems himself/herself
Pays attention

Help your baby get ready for school:

As the parent of a young child you want to prepare your child for school. Preparing your child for school really starts very early. You are your child's first and most important teacher!

Why are quality early childhood experiences so important?

Nourishing a child’s mind in the first five years of life is as essential as feeding the body. New scientific research confirms that what happens to children’s brains in their earliest years shapes the adults they become, the success they achieve, and the contributions they make to our economy and society.

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Our Mission Statement

The goal of the RICH Network is to make high-quality, early care and education available to all eligible children in Richland Parish, so they enter kindergarten healthy and ready for success. Part of that goal is to also help families make the best choices for their early learner's education, and to be involved in supporting their child's early development.