Recent studies indicate that a quality preschool experience provides a lifetime of benefits to participants and the communities in which they live. For every $1.00 invested in educating a child between birth and age 5, $10.00 is returned in saved costs of remedial and special education, increased graduation rates, reduced drug and incarceration costs, and increased numbers of young citizens joining a skilled work force and participating in higher education opportunities. Early education is one of the most effective ways to close the achievement gap in our schools.
In Stamford, the Board of Education recognizes how critical it is to work with children well before they arrive in kindergarten. In fact, the Stamford School Readiness Program is unique because it is collaboration between the Stamford Public Schools, the City, and CLC. Certified teachers from the Stamford Public School District serve as Instructional Coordinators in the School Readiness Program, supporting classroom teachers in the School Readiness rooms by overseeing the instructional component of the School Readiness Program. A unique aspect of the Stamford School Readiness Program is the large number of children that are English Language Learners. Over the past several years the City of Stamford has seen a significant increase in the number of immigrant families from South America, Eastern Europe and Asia. Almost 30% of Stamford residents are foreign born and 35% speak a language other than English at home. Given the cultural richness of our population, Stamford recognizes that additional supports for its young children are required to allow each child to enter the public schools healthy and ready to learn. The School Readiness Program in Stamford is a robust model that provides the educational and social/emotional development components of a quality preschool program along with a wide range of services, including high quality nutritional meals cooked in CLC kitchens, nutrition education, health services and referrals, social services and parent involvement activities. The parent involvement activities reinforce both literacy and parenting skills. Parents become involved in the education of their children, a role that will help children throughout their schooling. All School Readiness services are professionally offered to assist in addressing all the needs of Stamford’s children in a quality preschool program. School Readiness looks forward to building a new facility to serve additional preschool children. |