C.O. Head Start reports strong progress
Students attending NeighborImpact Head Start in Deschutes and Crook counties were back in class Monday, and teachers have an important goal in mind: Build on last year’s impressive gains in student achievement.
Of the 433 3- and 4-year-olds attending class last year, well over 90 percent either met or exceeded standards in areas such as math, literacy, language, and cognitive skills, officials said in Monday’s news release.
“We were pleased with our success last year, and our data tells the story,” says Kim Snow, associate director of education and quality for NeighborImpact. “It’s amazing to see the progress these children make with the intensive classroom instruction we provide and the comprehensive support given to families.”
NeighborImpact conducts rigorous assessments to track the progress of both students and teachers.
Last fall, only 46 percent of students were meeting basic literacy standards. By the spring, that number was up to 94 percent.
While math is a bit more challenging, 83 percent of students were meeting or exceeding math standards by the end of school, up from 25 percent in the fall.
Head Start teachers also performed better than the national average, exceeding scores for what’s known as Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) data, which measures teachers on teacher/child interactions.
For the first time, NeighborImpact is hiring an education and quality coaching specialist to provide additional resources to teachers. The new position aims to improve the quality of education and help boost both teacher and student performance.
“We’re so excited about this new position, because while we’re happy with our current success, we need to find ways to make sure all students receive the best education possible and are ready to make that important transition to kindergarten,” explained Snow.
Students eligible for Head Start must come from households living in poverty and priority is given to children who are homeless, identified special needs; foster children and children who have suffered from abuse, neglect and early childhood trauma.
Head Start provides a broad range of services in addition to classroom education. Health, nutrition, and family support services are complemented by a vast array of NeighborImpact programs, which support families in all areas of their lives.
NeighborImpact is a “21 Cares for Kids” partner.
