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What does it take to make it to the top of the U.S. News and World Report list of best high schools in the United States? To find out, Collaborative for Children helped coordinate a May 22, 2008 site visit to South Texas. The journey welcomed Texas House Public Education Committee Chairman, Rep. Rob Eissler, as well as several State Senate and House of Representative staff members.
The group traveled to McAllen to listen and learn from the leadership of Hidalgo Independent School District. The district’s “lessons learned” offered valuable insights and the hope for replication of success across the state. Along with Chairman Eissler, visitors included Julie Freeman from Rep. Diane Patrick’s office, Melissa Henderson from Rep. Patrick Rose’s office, Ida Garcia from Sen. Leticia Van de Putte’s office, Lauren Cook of Sen. Judith Zaffarini’s office and representatives from Houston ISD, Spring Branch ISD, the Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition and Collaborative for Children.
Three educational approaches immediately stood out as contributors to Hidalgo ISD’s impressive high school performance record. First, the district provides full-school-day early education for four and three year olds. Hidalgo ISD’s four year olds have participated in the Texas pre-kindergarten program for the past twenty years. Three year olds have been eligible to participate in Pre-K for the past twelve years. Hidalgo ISD has combined state, federal and local dollars to help reach this important goal.
Second, all Hidalgo ISD children participate in a dual-language system from pre-kindergarten through their senior year in high school. As a result, graduates of Hidalgo High School are fluent in both English and Spanish. Such students and graduates are readily marketable to area employers who value bilingual employees. Research is also beginning to show that students schooled in dual-language programs academically out-perform their “single-language” counterparts.
Third, Hidalgo High School has embraced the “Early College” model, which allows students to take college-credit courses prior to high school graduation. While encouraging students to reach new academic heights, this program also potentially reduces the cost of college for families, as well as the time it takes for a student to earn a license, certification, associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
“It’s amazing how successful a school district can be when they involve the entire community in their program, from preschool through high school and college,” says Public Education Committee Chairman, Rep. Rob Eissler.
Perhaps the most important lessons garnered from the visit were ones grounded in steadfast dedication to school success. Hidalgo district leaders exhibited a passion for excellence throughout the day’s presentations and discussions. They sincerely displayed a belief that every child in their district would prove successful in Hidalgo High School and beyond. Not surprisingly, the children have proven them right.
By Carol Shattuck
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 marked the first class of Collaborative for Children’s College Bound – Beginning at Birth Professional Pathway Course. Designed to help early education instructors “spread their wings,” the program offers fresh approaches to lesson planning and classroom activities.
Students arrived for the course’s inaugural class, a buzz of excitement electrified the air. Twenty-four infant and toddler teachers from the Sunnyside community had committed to this nine-month course, knowing it would change their careers and the lives of their students forever. Eighteen of the teachers are seeking Child Development Associate (CDA) credentials and the remaining six who already have their CDA are participants of professional development.
The Professional Pathway Course is taught by Kim Dixon, an Early Childhood Education instructor at Texas Southern University and a former child care center director. Through her instruction, Dixon challenges students to embrace innovative approaches within their care environments. Each two-hour class includes classroom scenarios, group discussion, references to early education luminaries and their research and content lecture. Teachers also receive out-of-class assignments.
According to Mrs. Rhonda Lacy, South Park Child Care Director, her staff is especially excited about Professional Pathways training. “At one time, I knew I could always find my Child Care Licensing Standards Manual in my office. However, since the initial training, the staff are always borrowing it,” she says. “They are seeking out information to improve the environment in their classrooms.”
Collaborative for Children staff is grateful for the child care centers and the 23 professionals who committed to participating in this project. At the beginning, five child care center directors were part of the intensive quality improvement process. There are now four participating centers which include Kandy Stripe Academy, Sharp Early Childhood Center, South Park Child Development Center and Teeter Totter Village. Nine months from now, 17 teachers and caregivers will be receiving their CDA credentials, the other six will have benefited from Dixon’s expertise in the areas of child development and early childhood program management.
The College Bound – Beginning at Birth collaboration is on its way to positively impacting the lives of infants and toddlers in Sunnyside. Through this partnership, parents and teachers will be better prepared to support their children in their quest for academic and life success.
By Sul Ross
United Way of Greater Houston’s Bright Beginnings is a model program designed to improve the quality of child care for Houston children. Created in partnership with ExxonMobil, the program has led to dramatic results through a mix of leadership development, teacher training, wage supplementation, equipment grants and parent involvement. For the first time since the program’s inception, Bright Beginnings is tracking children’s school outcomes, with a focus on measurable school performance. Collaborative for Children currently serves as the program’s Curriculum Training Team.
Current program evaluation results indicate that Bright Beginnings child care centers demonstrate best practices in delivering engaging educational experiences for young children. According to one new teacher at a participating child care center, “I came in with the assumption that I’d be a baby sitter. I’ve been here eight months and I’ve learned so much and I am eager to learn more.”
For the first time, Bright Beginnings evaluation team compared Kindergarten standardized test scores of children who previously attended Bright Beginnings centers since its inception to a comparable random sample of Kindergarten students. Bright Beginnings students scored significantly higher in reading and scored higher in math; therefore, showing the important role high quality early care and education plays in children’s future school success.
Bright Beginnings is setting a new standard for early care and education in Houston. According to United Way of Greater Houston, “Bright Beginnings is revolutionizing child care and learning to create higher rates of success.”
By Sharon Spillman
Collaborative for Children Board Member Harlan Hooks is currently the Director of Marketing and Merchandising for H-E-B Houston Division. He has been a member of the H-E-B team for almost eight years, working in Austin, San Antonio and now Houston.
New this year to Collaborative for Children’s Board of Directors, Harlan didn’t waste any time making a significant contribution to the organization. Having been a working parent with young children, he understands the mission of the organization and knows the challenges of balancing work and family life. He has offered Collaborative for Children financial support and put his creative energies to work by identifying ways to partner with H-E-B. In fact, H-E-B will be one of two major underwriters for this year’s Investing in The Next Generation Luncheon. Way to go Harlan!
By Erin Charlton
$150,200 raised to date for our annual luncheon
H-E-B and Wells Fargo have each contributed $25,000 and the Robert R. and Kay M. Onstead Foundation and Yellow Cab/Taxis Fiesta have each contributed $10,000 to Collaborative for Children’s annual luncheon, Investing in The Next Generation. As an owner of one share of uncommon stock in The Next Generation, you’re also invited to join us for lunch and a presentation by keynote speaker W. Steven Barnett, Ph. D., Director of the National Institute for Early Education Research.
Friday, October 10, 2008
11:00 a.m. Registration and Silent Auction begin
11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. – Luncheon and Program
Hyatt Regency Houston
1200 Louisiana Street
Houston, TX 77002
About W. Steven Barnett
W. Steven Barnett Ph. D., is a Professor and Director of the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers University. His research includes studies of the economics of early care and education, the long-term effects of preschool programs on children's learning and the equitable distribution of educational opportunities. Barnett has led NIEER’s work in creating The State of Preschool 2007: State Preschool Yearbook, the fifth in a series of annual reports profiling state-funded pre-kindergarten programs in the United States. His expertise on the different standards implemented in delivering early education have made him a frequently requested speaker to elected officials, school leadership and the business community – all of whom want their tax dollars toward education invested in the best possible way.
We have many more reasons to say thank you to our generous Collaborative for Children supporters!
Thank You!
New Funding Since April!
Individuals have donated $34,402!
Organizations have contributed $240,692:
Stanford and Joan Alexander Foundation
ARAMARK Education
Bank of America
The Jack and Annis Bowen Foundation
Bright Horizons Family Solutions
The Brodsky Foundation
CenterPoint Energy
Davis Hamilton Jackson & Associates LP
The Enrico & Sandra Di Portanova Charitable Foundation
Edge Creative Strategies
Harriett and Joe Foster Foundation
The Eleanor and Frank Freed Foundation
The Frees Foundation
Greater Houston Community Foundation
H-E-B
Heritage Realty Corp.
Innovative Teaching Foundation
Kaplan Early Learning Co.
Kroger Food Stores
Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell, LLP
Marathon Oil Corporation
Robert and Janice McNair Foundation
Memorial Hermann
Miller Florist & Gifts
Mir·Fox & Rodriguez, PC
Mithoff Family Foundation
Mosbacher Foundation, Inc.
Robert R. and Kay M. Onstead Foundation
PLUS Foundation
Randalls Food Markets
The Wilhelmina E. Robertson Fund
Schlumberger, Ltd.
Silver Eagle Distributors, LP
Sterling Bank
University of Phoenix
Valero Refining Company
Wells Fargo
Yellow Cab/Taxis Fiesta
Young Learners School
Zuber Insurance Agency, Inc.
In-Kind Gifts!
Mr. Charles Butt
THANK YOU!
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