"Right now, we're one of the very few states that do not fund on a state level early childhood education," said Abraham. "It would be my hope that the state legislature would take a look at this and see a way they can start putting some line item funding in there for early childhood education."

South Peninsula Coalition for Young Children is taking a step in that direction by helping the community identify resources available to meet the needs of the area's younger residents, as well as resources that are lacking. It is one of nine groups around the state working through Best Beginnings, a public-private partnership that combines people and resources to ensure Alaska children are ready to begin school.

What Trout and Abraham have witnessed about student readiness reflects statistics provided by Best Beginnings, specifically that about 40 percent of Alaska children begin school unprepared to succeed.

Working together, South Peninsula Coalition for Youth Children and the eight other groups are targeting the needs of an estimated 40,000 youngsters under the age of five living in areas the groups represent. That number is about 90 percent of all Alaska children in that age group, according to Best Beginnings.

The local coalition cooperatively pools the expertise of for starters Kachemak Kids Early Learning Center; Birth 2 Three; Homer Head Start; Homer Public Health Center; Office of Children's Services; Women, Infant and Children; Haven House; Safe Kids Coalition; and the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. The goal, however, is to involve more individuals, families and groups.

"We want input, not just from service providers, but others in community," said Martha Wagele of Head Start.

The best way to get that involvement is still uncertain, said Karen Shemet of Birth 2 Three an organization that provides services to a population of nearly 12,000 on the lower peninsula but a first step is a survey currently being distributed by coalition representatives. Lolita Brache of Kachemak Kids Early Learning Center made the Web address of the survey available to visitors at the Nutcracker Faire over the weekend. This week, copies of the survey are being sent home to Chapman parents, according to Trout. Copies also are available at Birth 2 Three, Head Start, WIC and through several area schools.

"The state of Alaska wants to ensure that all children 'enter school ready to succeed.' We would like to define what that means and exactly what we need to make it happen," the introduction to the survey reads. "Please complete the following survey to help us identify the strengths and gaps we have in our communities."

The surveys will be collected until Dec. 21. On Jan. 15, data from the surveys will be submitted to the state, where it will be compiled with other information gathered around the state in an effort to help Best Beginnings meet its key objectives:

* Engaging parents and extended family members in children's learning beginning at birth;

* Communicating to Alaskans the importance to society of early learning and literacy;

* Helping Alaskans understand that investments in early learning pay big dividends to the state as a whole;

* Seeing sufficient funds are committed from public and private sources to ensure every Alaska child has the opportunity to begin school ready to succeed.

The coalition's roots date back to an Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Plan developed by the state in 2006. It took a broad look at systems needed to support families and communities in developing healthy, ready-to-learn children.

"Alaska has a number of extensive and significant multi system efforts currently taking place. There is no single point, however, at which these efforts for early childhood coalesce," the plan stated. "The challenge is to bring together existing efforts under a broadened umbrella, without negating or duplicating the work already being done."

That's where the South Peninsula Coalition comes in taking a close look at Homer and the surrounding area to see what's available and what's needed to help youngsters succeed.

"We're looking not just at Homer. We want information from the surrounding communities, people from Ninilchik, the villages," Brache said of area-specific participation.

To date, about 60 responses have been received.

"Most are from Homer, but we have a few form Anchor Point, Ninilchik and one from Razdolna," said Brache, who hopes to have at least 100 surveys returned.

Simply stated, what it comes down to is ensuring children are learning, Brache said. Abraham and Trout agree.

"I've been doing this a number of years and we know that the earlier we can start working with children to build language and encourage learning, the better off we are," Abraham said.

Trout said it is a to priority at Chapman and within the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District.

"The state is starting to look at it as such because we have children beginning school that do not have the skills to succeed," she said. "We're talking about basic developmentally ready skills for a 5-year-old."

For a copy of South Peninsula Coalition for Young Children's survey, visit the Web at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=O1SPafN4O75r0UVdQejjPA_3d_3d. For more information about the coalition, e-mail Brache at lolitagrace@gmail.com.

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky.@homernews.com.