4-Year-Old Kindergarden Community Approach (4KCA)
Benefits for Early Childhood Education Programs
A 4K Community Approach (4KCA) is a partnership between a school district and a community provider (child care, Head Start, private school) to offer 4K within the community setting. 4KCA allows families options in providing quality care and education, regardless of ability or family income. Quality early education opportunities have profound lifelong benefits for children. Communities throughout Wisconsin have adopted a 4KCA approach to ensure that all four-year-olds have equitable access to quality learning opportunities.
Below are five highlights pulled from Wisconsin Stories Highlighting the Unique Benefits of the 4K Community Approach or 54 Reasons to Implement the 4K Community Approach, related to the benefits of a 4KCA approach for early childhood education programs. These were complied in 2013 through a series of interviews and surveys with 4K CA providers across Wisconsin.
- Improved quality of all early childcare.
- Encouraged staff to improve skills and qualifications.
- Increased sharing of curriculum and resources.
- Allowed for fiscal flexibility to improve salary or benefits.
- Prompted more interaction, collaboration, and cost sharing.