Early Childhood

Early Reading First

Through funding from the U.S. Department of Education, seven of our classrooms offer an enhanced literacy focus. These programs coordinate with local efforts to enhance the oral language, cognitive, and early reading skills of pre-school aged children and are designed to help close the urban-surburban achievement gap by preparing children to enter school ready to learn and succeed.

Early Reading First Program Video

Early Reading First classrooms have:

• Teachers attending ongoing, credit bearing professional development courses focused on language and literacy skills in children.
• Masters level literacy mentors who provide coaching and training to teachers, parents and the community.
• A focus on building the literacy skills of English Language Learners and children who speak English as a Second Language.
• Formal, collaborative agreements with local schools and educaitonal authorities to further facilitate a smooth transition to kindergarten.
• A curriculum grounded in scientifically based reading research with a focus on vocabulary, alphabet knowledge, phonological awareness and concepts of print.
• Literacy materials and equipment that enhance the classroom environment.

Early Childhood Program Locations

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