September 1st 2005 - The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) has exercised its option for WRMA to continue its Phase II Implementation evaluation of the Supporting Partnership to Assure Ready Kids (SPARK) initiative.

The SPARK initiative is founded on basic principles accepted as necessary for achieving school readiness. This initiative was designed to enhance community-based collaboration and build strategic infrastructure to support early education and school readiness for high-risk children between the ages of 3-4. WRMA has completed the Phase I (planning) evaluation, year one of the Phase II Implementation five-year evaluation, and is currently concluding the second year of the Phase II Initiative Level Evaluation of SPARK.

The assistance provided by WRMA includes developing baseline data upon which future findings can be documented in the evaluation's three domain areas-partnerships and leadership, ready kids and ready schools, and sustainability. WRMA will also assist the grantees in both integrating evaluation findings and developing an initiative-wide understanding of ready kids and families, ready schools, partnerships, and leaders as well as identifying policies and practices that leverage or sustain change. The overall analysis of the project will identify grantee needs for further partnership development and effective ways in which to expand project success.

The reasons children both start school from disadvantaged positions and fall behind are complex, but the SPARK initiative will begin to identify systemic strengths and weaknesses in order to develop best practices for aligning early learning, elementary school systems and health services to support children and achieve a lasting impact for children's success in school. WRMA's work on this initiative will help States and communities develop effective, targeted policies and practices for preparing children for school and preparing schools for children.