Barberton Preschool Collaborative Builds Momentum Around Early Learning and Kindergarten Readiness

The collaborative effort gained momentum following the release of September 2025 Ohio School Report Card data showing that only 22.8% of Barberton kindergarten students were assessed as “demonstrating readiness” on the Ohio Kindergarten Readiness Assessment, meaning fewer than 1 in 4 children entered kindergarten ready to learn according to state standards.

The assessment measures foundational skills tied to language, literacy, mathematics, social foundations, and emotional regulation to evaluate whether children are prepared to begin kindergarten-level instruction. While Barberton’s score reflected a local challenge, the data also aligned with broader statewide trends showing many children entering school below readiness benchmarks.

As part of its strategic focus on birth-to-age-5 education, Barberton Community Foundation is investing in partnerships and collaborative efforts designed to strengthen early learning systems across Barberton. The broad goal of this work is to help more children enter kindergarten ready to learn and help more families view Barberton as a community that prioritizes their success and future.

Long-term data and local experience continue to show that children who attend high-quality preschool enter kindergarten with a meaningful advantage. Yet cost remains a barrier for many working households, while others remain unaware of how foundational the early years are for emotional regulation, language development, and lifelong learning.

The Barberton Preschool Collaborative brings together providers and other community partners to access curriculum materials, professional development opportunities, free curriculum training, premier early learning conferences, and a growing peer network committed to strengthening outcomes for children and families.

Just as important, participants are building relationships, sharing experiences, learning from one another, and helping strengthen Barberton’s early learning system.

The Preschool Collaborative, facilitated by Christine Sullivan, senior network facilitator for early childhood at Summit Education Initiative, includes the Early Childhood Resource Center, Barberton City School District, Barberton Public Library, Child Guidance & Family Solutions, Akron Summit Community Action (Head Start), local preschool providers, and community partners focused on sharing best practices, using data to inform action, and expanding access to affordable, high-quality preschool opportunities.

During the final Preschool Collaborative meeting of the school year, providers reflected on the progress made over the past year with optimism and a continued commitment to strengthening early learning support for Barberton children and families.

“I love being part of this network because I want to make a difference in the community,” said Theresa Rolenz, Center Director at Barberton KinderCare, which operates a Gold-rated program through Ohio’s Step Up To Quality system. “I want every child to be ready and every provider to feel supported. It’s exciting to meet so many people who are all working toward the same goal.”

“The data surprised me, especially how many children are not prepared for kindergarten,” said Danyell Allen, founder, CEO, and administrator of Crowned Crayons Academy, another Gold-rated licensed childcare facility in Barberton. “I think being part of this network brings hope, and I feel that excitement. You know we are moving forward and trying to help these children get what they need. I’m excited to be part of this effort.”

“The Barberton Preschool Collaborative creates a space for early learning providers and community partners to come together around shared data, shared goals, and a shared commitment to children and families. During the collaborative’s first year, we built strong momentum through honest conversations, resource sharing, and identifying common challenges and opportunities across programs. This alignment matters because kindergarten readiness is not the responsibility of any single school or organization. It requires a connected community working together to support children and ensure they are ready and eager to learn on their first day of school,” said Christine Sullivan, senior network facilitator for early childhood at Summit Education Initiative.

“When only 1 in 4 children are entering school ready to thrive, the answer is not one program or one organization,” said Josh Gordon, executive director of Barberton Community Foundation. “The early years matter. A strong start helps shape language development, emotional regulation skills, confidence, and a child’s relationship with learning long before they ever walk into a kindergarten classroom. That foundation helps shape what comes next in school, career pathways, and life.”

“We also need to recognize and value the providers doing this important work every day,” Gordon said. “They are helping shape the future of our community. This collaboration is bringing people together around a shared belief that every child deserves the opportunity to enter school supported, prepared, and ready to succeed.”

Current participants in the Preschool Collaborative include Barberton Preschool, Barberton KinderCare Learning Center, Barberton Head Start, Crowned Crayons Academy, Johnson’s Corners Child Development Center, Child Guidance and Family Solutions, and other community partners focused on strengthening kindergarten readiness for Barberton students. Additional preschool providers serving Barberton students are encouraged to join the growing collaborative.

Beyond the Preschool Collaborative, Barberton Community Foundation also helped bring Barberton providers into the countywide Unified Early Learning System (UELS), a two-phase pilot initiative designed to help stabilize early learning programs and educators while expanding access to quality early learning opportunities through professional development, business support, workforce development assistance, and wraparound family services.

Barberton Community Foundation is also working with Osgood-Sheldon Group, a Northeast Ohio management consulting firm, to help guide research, stakeholder engagement, and long-range strategic planning focused on strengthening Barberton’s early learning system over time. The effort includes conversations with families, providers, educators, and community leaders to better understand barriers, identify opportunities, and help develop a blueprint for improving kindergarten readiness outcomes across the community.

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About Barberton Community Foundation

Established in 1996, Barberton Community Foundation has awarded over 8,500 grants and scholarships totaling more than $109 million since its inception. The Foundation strives to improve, now and forever, the quality of life for Barberton residents by providing leadership on vital issues, fostering collaboration and creating a legacy of giving to do good. The Foundation strengthens the community for current and future generations by proactively directing its grant dollars to the community’s greatest needs. To read more about Barberton Community Foundation, visit www.barbertoncf.org or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/barbertoncommunityfoundation.