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Cruise into Kindergarten

Pennsylvania’s public libraries are passionately committed to strengthening children’s early learning. The Cruise into Kindergarten initiative is designed to provide a recognizable umbrella for the library's early literacy programs and outreach throughout the state. Please feel free to view our philosophy statement for an overview of our guiding principles.

History

In 2013, Pennsylvania Public Libraries received funding through a Library Services and Technology (LSTA) grant to begin the Cruise into Kindergarten initiative. Three key components define the umbrella of services that will be provided

  1. print resources in the form of informational brochures on early literacy for parents and caregivers and window clings for Cruise into Kindergarten participating libraries;
  2. online resources in the form of an interactive game board for children with tips, booklists and early learning links for parents and caregivers & an internal website for librarians with early learning resources, information, trainings, online courses, videos, and customizable newsletters; and
  3. programming resources in the form of child, parent and family & childcare provider programs that incorporate Every Child Ready to Read @ Your Library (ECRR) best practices and Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards.

Membership and Steering Committee

Participation in the Cruise into Kindergarten initiative is open to any Pennsylvania library that supports our philosophy.  A steering committee was selected from libraries across the state to guide the development and implementation of resources and outreach.

STEERING COMMITTEE ROSTER

Overall Goals

  1. Educate and train library staff to provide high quality early literacy experiences for families, while increasing librarians' knowledge of brain development, ECRR, and Early Learning & STEM Standards applied to programming
  2. Increase awareness of the importance of early learning in all communities in Pennsylvania. Collaborate with other state and local agencies involved with early learning
  3. Promote the role of libraries in providing early learning support to parents, care providers, and early childhood educators
  4. Improve the school readiness practices of adults who provide services and/or care for young children