Moving Forward
2019 - 2020 Annual Report
“When you’re an educator, every day brings new, unexpected learning experiences. We enable children to grow by creating classrooms full of exciting, colorful themes and activities and lessons to promote social, cognitive, and emotional development. Cincinnati Preschool Promise has helped me achieve my higher star rating and access to training through webinars as well as coaching support. They have helped me provide resources for my families, including supplies for the daycare as well as learning materials. My role is to get children excited about learning. CPP enables me to give them the support they need to the best person they can be.” - Carla Wheeler, Karla’s Kiddie Kingdom Tuition Assistance Provider
Mission Cincinnati Preschool Promise works to ensure equitable access to high-quality preschool so that every Cincinnati child is prepared for Kindergarten.
Vision Our region values preschool as an integral part of a child’s education and as an important support for working families. The community acknowledges that the best outcomes are possible with continuous access to high-quality education, beginning with preschool, and ongoing engagement throughout a child’s educational experience. This is especially true for children with the greatest need. Kindergarten readiness, and third grade reading are short-term benefits of increased participation in preschool. The longer-term benefits, from middle school through high school, will produce a more qualified workforce and community in which all residents have an opportunity to thrive.
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From the Board Chairs To the Cincinnati Community, Thank you for your trust in Cincinnati Preschool Promise and our vision to provide high-quality preschool for our youngest learners. We have been able to expand the number of Providers and teachers who have passed rigorous criteria to either earn or increase their State of Ohio’s Step Up to Quality star ratings as educators. Our initial goal when we started was to provide access. What we have since learned is that families also need support in educating their children. Our Providers and teachers have created actionable steps and made personal sacrifices to make sure any child, regardless of where they start, will be Kindergarten-ready. We have 236 Community Providers located in the Cincinnati Public School district and 44 Cincinnati Public School preschools. Together, they support families and their preschoolers throughout the city. Our focus is on making sure families can find and afford high-quality preschools, and help preschools within our network, improve their programming. We have our eyes on the long game, which is to prepare children for lifelong learning from kindergarten through college and beyond. Our Providers and teachers are resilient. They have met the challenges of downsizing and rightsizing their classrooms as we fight COVID-19 and its impact on in-person learning. As small business owners, our Community Providers have been able to remain open by serving as pandemic centers or by reducing the number of children to state-mandated levels. As we return to full classroom education, there are still some instances where virtual learning will be the preferred learning method for some families. For those who choose in-person learning, Cincinnati Preschool Promise offers tuition assistance to reduce costs. We want the Cincinnati community to know we remain committed to the promise of well-prepared preschoolers for Kindergarten. We ask you to continue the journey with us. Moving Forward,
Father Michael Graham, S.J. Board Chair Cincinnati Preschool Promise
Carolyn Jones President Cincinnati Public Schools
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Cincinnati Preschool Promise Board of Managers • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Father Michael J. Graham, S.J., Board Chair Cheryl Rose, Treasurer Deborah Mariner Allsop, Secretary Bianca Edwards Terri England Christine Fisher Marcia Futel Anthony Hobson Micah Kamrass Gary Lindgren O’dell Moreno Owens, M.D., M.P.H. Laura Sanregret Bishop Ennis Tait Sallie Westheimer Vanessa Y. White, PhD.
Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education • • • • • • •
Carolyn Jones, President Ryan Messer, Vice President Melanie Bates Eve Bolton Pamela Bowers Ben Lindy Mike Moroski
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The Kennedy Family Keeping the Promise As a single parent of two children, it is no secret to family and friends that Neidra Kennedy wants her children to have the best, especially in their education. Neidra needed assistance to pay for her daughter’s preschool. She applied for funding from several sources and received denial letters with no other options in sight. A chance meeting with a Cincinnati Preschool Promise staff member made her feel hopeful for the first time. Neidra’s worry of being able to provide a preschool education for her daughter, Khaliah, was no longer an issue. With Cincinnati Preschool Promise’s tuition assistance, Neidra immediately enrolled Khaliah at a CPP Community Preschool. She believed her threeyear-old daughter would thrive in an environment that would increase her social and emotional development. After a year of preschool education, Neidra saw her daughter’s self-confidence grow, her personality develop, and her interest in learning increase. When asked about preschool, Khaliah talked excitedly about her teachers and her classroom, saying, “Next, I’m going to kindergarten!” Neidra says CPP was a lifesaver and was ‘right on time’ for her family.
“I know a quality education comes at a price. I wouldn’t be able to afford Khaliah’s preschool without Cincinnati Preschool Promise support.”
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Tuition Assistance Moving Families Forward
Cincinnati Preschool Promise ensures the youngest learners are prepared for Kindergarten and beyond. When children have access to a high-quality education, it strengthens the educational and social-emotional development needed for Kindergarten. Cincinnati Preschool Promise has supported and prepared over 4,700 preschoolers for Kindergarten at an average cost of $5,900 per child. Research studies indicate making high-quality preschool education accessible and affordable is an investment in the future and worth the long-term benefits.
Cincinnati Preschool Promise Initiates Extended Learning After the State of Ohio mandated school closures, CPP implemented the Extended Learning Sessions (ELS) to reduce the learning loss children experience when they are away from the classroom. This loss was anticipated to be greater than the usual “summer slide.” Some children could have been out of preschool for five months due to COVID-related limitations in classroom size and some site closures. ELS provided an opportunity for Cincinnati Preschool Promise children to return to the classroom and continue on the path to becoming Kindergarten-ready.
Listen to Marietta Wade, Wesley Education Center about the benefits of the Extended Learning
2017
2018
2019
Total
Number of CPP Students Served
622
951
856
2,429
Number of CPS Students Served
719
799
833
2,351
Number of Participating CPP Preschools
40
58
87
185
Number of Participating CPS Preschools
41
42
42
125
*These numbers reflect multi-year participation of some Tuition Assistance programs “Cincinnati Preschool Promise has helped me achieve a high-quality rating. They assisted our Center with outdoor equipment for our play area and purchase additional classroom resources. Furthermore, Preschool Promise has given us access to education and professional development through webinars. We receive support with marketing for our Center to potential preschool families looking for quality child care. Providing access to high-quality preschool is extremely important to promoting brain development, school readiness, and giving children skills and a good start to succeed in school and life.” ~Gina Poole, The Little Tree House of Knowledge Tuition Assistance Provider
Average Tuition Assistance Provided Per Preschooler
6
2017-2018
2018-2019
2019-2020
$6,100
$5,400
$6,300
Quality Improvement Moving to High-Quality
Cincinnati Preschool Promise helps Providers improve their quality rating in Ohio’s tiered Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) rating system . Once Providers achieve 3-, 4-, or 5- star rating, children in these programs have access to high-quality education, developmentally appropriate material, better compensated and qualified teachers, and a curriculum that prepares them for Kindergarten success.
From Unrated to 1 Star
2017
2018
2019
Total
3
28
21
52
1
8
9
11
11
22
11
29
41
From Unrated to 2 Stars
From 1 Star to 2 Stars Reached 3 Stars to 5 Stars
1
From 1 Star to 5 Stars
1
Total Star Rating Improvements
5
1 51
69
125
The star increases represent only eight months of work before the Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) rating process was temporarily halted in February 2020 due to COVID-19.
Growth of QI Providers
2017
2018
2019
Number of Quality Improvement Providers*
32
126
141
Total
Number of Quality Seats created
80
271
369
720
Number of QI Providers Achieving High-Quality
9
24
29
62
570
1,739
1,631
3,940
Total Preschool Seats at QI Providers
*These numbers reflect multi-year participation of some Quality Improvement programs
Listen to the Mt. Washington Baptist Day Care & Preschool story Kayla Lewis Just 4 Kids 2 Learning Center Listen to her story
Thank you to our Coaching Partners 4C for Children • Learning Grove • Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency
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The CPP Equity Policy Cincinnati Preschool Promise affirms the goals and methods of the Cincinnati Public School Board’s Equity and Excellence in Education policy (Board Policy 2255). Cincinnati Preschool Promise’s understanding is the pursuit of equity “requires that we, as a community, share responsibility for addressing the opportunity gaps that exist within our society and impact our students’ ability to reach their full potential,” and that, in the pursuit of our mission to expand access to high-quality preschool, we take strides to “counteract the contemporary and historical impact of bias, prejudice and discrimination which for generations has produced a predictability of learning outcomes based on race, class, socioeconomics, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, cognitive/physical ability, diverse language fluency, and religion.” In addition, the Board and staff of Cincinnati Preschool Promise recognize a need to pursue equity with, and for, a broader public that includes not just diverse students and their families, but also CPP vendors, teachers, and preschool providers.
Click to review CPP’s Board Equity Policy Household Income
Student Ethnicity
Federal Poverty Levels are used to determine eligibility for Tuition Assistance
Hispanic
11%
100-130%
White 7% 6%
31%
Other
2%
73%
6%
<100%
1%
201-250%
4% 2%
251-300%
Asian or Pacific Islander
13%
Unknown
131-200%
45% 0% American Indian/ Alaskan Native
African American/Black
QI & TA Providers by Ethnicity
Waived
QI & TA Providers by Types
White Middle Eastern Nonprofit
Unknown
1%
Family Child Care Type B
3%
44.17%
20%
10.68% 4.37%
3% 73%%
24.76% African American
*Data based on Provider submitted ethnic designation
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Multi Sites
Single Site
School-Based (Parochial)
16.02% Family Child Care Type A
Top 5 CPP Enrollment Areas Avondale Downtown Evanston Westwood West Price Hill
Legend Quality Gap Non Quality Gap
Preschoolers Residing in Quality Gap Neighborhood
Preschoolers Residing in Non Quality Gap Neighborhood
55%
45%
A quality gap neighborhood is one that does not have sufficient high-quality seats to meet the needs of children that live in that neighborhood.
CPP supports a network of 87 high-quality TA Providers; half are located in quality gap areas. 9
CPP’s Response 12 CPS Spring Break extended to April 6 16
2 CPP Webinar –Business support for Providers
Ohio Schools closed by Executive Order
19 Distribution of remote learning materials to Providers begins (contactless)
23
Family Child Care eligible for Pandemic Licenses
25
Child Care close for regular operation by Executive Order
26 Pandemic Child Care sites
open to essential workers only
CARES Act passed with
27 Paycheck Protection
Program & EIDL assisted small businesses like Child Care to sustain employees
Ohio Department of Job & Family
3 Services delays SUTQ reviews
extension to September 1, 2020
4
Verizon/LISC Small Business Recovery Fund grant available
6
CPP Promise Reader initiative launched
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CPP Webinar on Taxes & Accounting for Providers
10 CPP Parent-Only
Facebook Page launches parent engagement series
14
CPP Webinar on Business Survival, in partnership with The African American Chamber and Futel & Associates Resolve
17 CPP funds available for tax prep/ accounting pilot for Family Child Care Programs
30 Public school closure extended
CPP launches digital webinar campaign series
MARCH
20 Gov. DeWine orders public school closure for the remainder 2019-2020 academic year
APRIL
This Timeline shows CPP’s adaption and support of families, Providers, teachers and our Community-at large.
to COVID-19 2
CPP Enrollment begins for 2020-21 program year
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CPP celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week
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National Provider Appreciation Day
13 Webinar Tuition Assistance Overview Professional Development Webinar:
14 Supporting Boys that are Wired to Move
1 Child Care reopens for all with reduce ratios
2 Staff Support Fund launched for Quality Improvement Providers
Launched From the Desk of
18 the Executive Director
Partnership with Freestore
11 Distribution of Personal Protection Equipment to CPP Providers
19 Foodbank for food box distribution to families & providers
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25 Professional Development: Professionalism, Effective Communication & Best Practices
Professional Development: Communicating with Young Children
26 Webinar series on the reopening
of Child Care, in partnership with 4C for Children, SWOAEYC, and Dayton Preschool Promise
28 Professional Development: Making Natural Connections with Young Children
MAY
JUNE
Stories Impact A 50-year Legacy of Early Childhood Education
Brenda Harris, Owner
Nanny’s Multi-Level Learning Center Tuition Assistance Provider Nanny’s Multi-Level Learning Center is a multigenerational, family-owned business located in Avondale. Brenda Harris is the torchbearer among four generations of African American women focused on providing high-quality education. Nearly 50 years in business, Nanny’s emphasis is on giving preschoolers a strong start in preparing for Kindergarten and their academic futures.
to stay competitive. We have been able to refresh our building, purchase new furniture, add new activities, and receive ongoing coaching support.
Thousands of children and their parents are part of the Nanny’s family. The daycare center was started by Margaret “Nanny” Andrews in her basement. The Center has now grown into two modern, brightly decorated, and well-equipped centers on Reading Road. Nanny’s is open to welcome preschoolers within the revised pandemic health and safety guidelines.
The COVID-19 pandemic threw a curveball in Harris’s growth plans. “I learned the benefits of having strong relationships and financial assets that could be leveraged when needed. We did the work necessary to remain a viable entity. It’s not easy to shrink your business because forces beyond your control are dictating your success. Like many preschools in Cincinnati, we underwent a state-mandated closure and are now slowly reopening. I’m a registered nurse, so I understand the critical need for children to be in clean and safe environments. Cincinnati Preschool Promise is a trusted advisor. They provided educational programming support and helped us obtain hard-to-find cleaning supplies and other personal protective equipment. “I am confident we will continue to grow our business and offer high-quality preschool to the children and families in our city.”
More than a baby-sitting service, Nanny’s provides a stimulating and challenging educational environment. “Our goal is to provide each child with the academics and social skills they need to be successful in kindergarten.” Children have grown up with Nanny’s from infancy, through their preschool ‘graduation’ on their way to kindergarten. Harris says teaching generations of children is one of her joys. “Parents who were babies when they first came to Nanny’s are now bringing their children and grandchildren. It’s quite a testament to our educational program,” states Harris. Brenda knew about the Cincinnati Preschool Promise when the organization began in 2017. “I already ran a high-quality business and didn’t see the need to join CPP as a Provider.” Now, a 5-star rated Center, Harris enjoys the benefits of her partnership with CPP. “Cincinnati Preschool Promise makes sure we have everything we need
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Being associated with CPP increases our visibility, recognition, and respect. Parents know you went through a process to gain stars, making you as competent as any other school curriculum.”
Listen to Nanny’s Multi-Learning Center story here
“Our goal from the start is to provide each child with the academics and social skills they need to be successful in kindergarten.”
Stories of Impact Morgan Hill, Owner Cozy Home Childcare and Learning Center Quality Improvement Provider When Morgan Hill opened her family child care in 2018, she was a single Mom with children in kindergarten and the fourth grade. Feeling overwhelmed and at a crossroads, she thought there must be other families like hers struggling with striking a balance between work, home, and providing for their family’s needs. She wanted to offer a comprehensive service that supports a child’s early development needs and parents’ practical needs to ensure their children were safe and well cared for. Morgan started her business in her home with six children. Very quickly, she realized if she wanted to grow and offer high-quality services; she could not do it alone. Her cousin, Frederick, who worked for Cincinnati Public Schools, became her Administrator. The process of actually expanding from her home to a Center provided additional learning experiences. With each obstacle, her program became better, and Morgan and her cousin became more informed business owners. “We grew up in Avondale and wanted to be part of the efforts to revitalize this community.” Cincinnati Preschool Promise is an incredible resource for our Center. We participated in CPP’s Quality Improvement program. They provided all of the toys and materials we needed to operate. We had excellent coaches who guided us in obtaining quality ratings through Ohio’s Step Up To Quality initiative. With CPP’s help and access to resources, we were able hire qualified child care professionals and teachers, and maintain high-quality child care learning experiences.
“The foundation of a child’s educational experience and attitude toward learning is mostly developed in the first five years. Providing highquality preschool is our best chance at producing energized lifelong learners. Cincinnati Preschool Promise helps us contribute to a productive workforce and society.” In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, Morgan is moving Cozy Home Care from her home into a brightly lit, first-floor space in the Avondale Town Center on Reading Road. “I can’t wait for the Cincinnati community to celebrate with us!” into a brightly lit, first-floor space in the Avondale Town Center on Reading Road. “I can’t wait for the Cincinnati community to celebrate with us!”
“The foundation of a child’s educational experience and attitude toward learning is mostly developed in the first five years. Providing high-quality preschool is our best chance at producing energized lifelong learners. Cincinnati Preschool Promise helps us contribute to a productive workforce and society.” 13
Sustaining Quality Teachers Following the recommendations of the Strategies Toward Wage Equity in Early Childhood report, Teacher Promise Grants (TPG) were developed to supplement teacher wages, as well as support retention and recruitment. Cincinnati Preschool Promise provided Teacher Promise Grants of up to $2,000 for lead teachers at Tuition Assistance Provider sites. These grants were also intended to enhance teachers’ professional and educational development. In the 2019-2020 program year, 12 new lead preschool teachers from 10 Provider sites received Teacher Promise Grants. Additionally, 46 Teacher Promise Grant recipients continued to receive support through 2019-2020.
TPG by Ethnicity African American White
19%
In June 2020 Cincinnati Preschool Promise launched the Staff Support Fund Pilot Program to help preschool program owners and directors retain quality staff as they pursue a high quality rating. Quality Improvement Providers have access to $3,000 per lead teaching position in their center or family child care program.Funds can be used to support any preschool teachers in the following areas:
73%
8%
• Offering retention, recruitment, or advancement bonuses • Offsetting costs for health insurance • Supplementing teachers’ wages • Paying for formal education in a degree-granting program in early childhood education
Hispanic
CPP
$104,000 100k 90k
Financial Information
80k 70k
Direct Program Spending
60k
In 2016 voters approved a 5-year levy for Cincinnati Public Schools, dedicating $15 million annually to making highquality preschool more available and affordable. Each year CPP’s annual budget is approved at a public meeting. The fiscal year is from July 1 to June 30. Total Tuition Assistance for fiscal year 2019 is $9,560,000.
50k
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Fiscal Year 2019 Cost of Quality Cost of Quality includes Teacher Promise Grants, Teacher Advancemen Bonus, and Workforce Expenses
40k 30k
CPS
$24,000
20k 10k
FY 2017
FY 2018
FY2019
Total Spend
Total Tuition Assistance Spend Cincinnati Preschool Promise
$2,170,000
$3,410,000
$3,740,000
$9,320,000
Total Tuition Assistance Spend Cincinnati Public Schools
$3,953,000
$4,179,000
$5,820,000 $13,952,000
Quality Improvement Spend Cincinnati Preschool Promise
$151,000
$1,075,000
$1,722,000
$2,948,000
Ready for Kindergarten The Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) is a tool to measure school readiness for incoming kindergartners. This assessment tool examines four domains; literacy, mathematics, motor development and social foundation. To understand incoming Kindergartens, the KRA provides feedback to families regarding their child’s ability to learn, and informs government funding decisions to enhance the early childhood programmatic needs. Preschoolers who received CPP Tuition Assistance performed better on the KRA than their peers who did not receive CPP Tuition Assistance. On the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment, 78.4% of CPP TA participants scored either within the “approaching” and “demonstrating” performance level, as opposed to 69.8% of the comparison group – an 8.6 point difference.” A complete evaluation of Year 3 was conducted by INNOVATIONS in Community Research and Program Evaluation, Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
60%
Overall KRA Performance Levels by Group for Year 3
50%
41.8%
40% 30%
39.0%
36.6%
30.8%
30.3% 21.5%
20% 10% 0%
CPP TA Emerging
*Comparison Group Approaching
Demonstrating
Note: Emerging (low readiness), Approaching (moderate readiness), Demonstrating (high readiness)
Percent “On-Track” on Language and Literacy Substest by Group for Year 3 90% 80% 70% 60%
61.3% 51.4%
50% 40% 30%
Our Step Up To Quality star rating enables us to qualify for higher paid PFCC pay, increases our credibility, and gains accessto additional funding opportunities. As an early childhood educator, I see myself as an advocate for quality services and to educate others on the importance of those services.” — Cheryl Spencer, TOTally Kids Learning Center Tuition Assistance Provider
20% 10% 0%
“It has always been my desire to have a quality preschool program that exceeded expectations in preparing preschool students for transition into kindergarten. The COVID-19 pandemic allowed me to re-evaluate my program, enroll in school, and be more creative in better serving our parents and children. Cincinnati Preschool Promise has assisted with indoor and outdoor equipment and access to educational opportunities through webinars, offering help with marketing my services, and providing coaching.
CPP TA
*Comparison Group
Note: Language and literacy scaled scores at or above 263 indicate a child is on-track for reading on grade level.
*A comparison group was selected from a pool of Cincinnati Public Schools kindergartners administered the KRA in 2018-19 and no documented participation in Cincinnati Preschool Promise Tuition Assistance program.
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What Providers Are Saying… Pamela Boykins has a home-based preschool and child care that offers flexibility in drop-off and pickup times. She states her partnership with CPP and her growth has been through selfpromotion by word of mouth and being active in CPP programs. “Cincinnati Preschool Promise has been a blessing because they respond whenever I need help. I stayed open during the pandemic and had to follow even stricter cleaning protocols for my children. Without being asked, CPP delivered Personal Protective Equipment directly to my door. My role as a Provider is to make sure every child feels good about themselves and is in a safe place to learn. Cincinnati Preschool Promises enables me to focus on bringing my best to my preschoolers.” ~ Pamela Boykins Quality Improvement Provider
“We are a small Center, but that did not matter to the CPP team. They have tremendously assisted our Center.The support has been phenomenal. Everyone working with children has experienced great challenges, especially during 2020. However, CPP provided so much support last year and through 2020. They met us in the park last summer to help us with recruiting. They have provided our staff with continuing education and training. Cincinnati Preschool Promise provided financial assistance to our Center and teachers. They have assisted with marketing, and they hand-delivered PPE and needed cleaning supplies for COVID-19. All of these things are important and vitally necessary. I have discovered something much more important–none of these things are possible without good leadership and an excellent and committed staff.” ~ Kathy Tyler, In GOD’S Hands Christian Youth Center Tuition Assistance Provider
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Community Providers
Alphabet Junction, Inc Angela F. Lyshe-Thierry Bethel Christian Academy, Inc. Bettys Angels at Home Preschool and Daycare Bobren’s Tiny Tots Co. CAA - Discovering Minds CAA - Life Learning Center CAA - Millvale CAA - Ted Berry Carmelia Montgomery Christina Bowman Cincinnati Scholar House Child Development Center Color Us Blended Family Childcare Corban Learning Center Corryville Catholic Cozy Care Nursery School & Childcare Creative Environment For Youth LLC Creative Imaginations Childcare LLC CWFF Child Development Center Daddy’s Daycare - Linn Street Denise Thompson Divine Daycare Center Inc. Ebony’s Learning Center, LLC Holy Family School In God’s Hands Christian Youth Center Janet Rolley Just 4 Kidz Academy Karen Jones Kennedy Heights Montessori Kiara Jenkins Kids Play 513 LLC Kimberly Cubit Kimberly Lowe LaRoy Holloway Latoya Dixon Latoya Spraggs Lauren Mack Learning Grove - Bond Hill Learning Grove - CityLink Learning Grove - East Walnut Hills Learning Grove - Future Environments Learning Grove - Gateway Visions
Learning Grove - Peaslee Early Learning Center Learning Grove - Price Hill Learning Grove - Schiff I Learning Grove - Schiff II Learning Grove - YWCA Little Kings and Queens Learning Center LLC Monica Thomas Nanny’s Multi Level Learning Centers, INC. New Horizons Nicole Burns Nikisha Hill N’Spired Kidz Childcare LLC Nurse Julie’s Daycare Patricia Blanchard Peggy Glasper Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Preschool Red Brick Childcare LLC Regina Buchannon Robyn Perkins Sherry Johnson Simpy’s Playhouse and Learning Center Sky’s The Limit Learning Center St. James Child Development Center St. Lawrence Preschool The Children’s Home The Little Tree House of Knowledge The Salvation Army Learning Center Tonya Moore TOTally Kids Learning Center UC - Arlitt UC- Early Learning Center Venetta Hazel Vicky’s Tender Heart Childcare Water Lily Learning Center, LLC Wesley Education Center Westwood United Methodist Church Where The Sidewalk Ends Academy William Mallory Early Learning Center YMCA - Christ Child YMCA - Gamble Nippert YMCA - Valley Youthland Academy of Pleasant Ridge
Cincinnati Preschool Promise Providers
Cincinnati Public Schools Preschools
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Keeping The Promise During COVID-19 COVID-19 is a global health crisis that has crystallized the dilemma educators face in providing an education while prioritizing health and safety concerns. As national and state orders required schools and child care Providers to close, families with preschool children throughout Cincinnati sought alternatives for their children’s education. Parents were suddenly thrust into the demands of teaching their children at home or finding alternative sites. We had 56 Providers switch to pandemic care to teach preschoolers and other students of essential workers. Providers who remained open followed strict local, state, federal, and medical guidelines to ensure everyone’s safety. Fortunately, community stakeholders like those featured throughout this annual report, and many small business owners and nonprofits joined CPP to support preschool education. All of us are working hard to turn this challenge into an opportunity. Many lessons were learned as we continue to change from traditional early education models to what works now. Every day we are reminded of the tenacity of Providers to meet the needs of the families and children they serve. We instituted weekly calls to check on Providers’ wellbeing. In partnership with our Providers, we strengthened our relationships with parents by being re-sponsive to their requests. We are a trusted go-to resource and continue to maintain open and honest communications about the challenges we jointly face with COVID-19.
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The responses to our identified needs to our partners and supporters were immediately addressed. The children’s resilience to learning in any environment matched educators’ commitment to weather the storm to do what they are called to do — teach — even in the most chal-lenging circumstances! The COVID-19 Timeline in this annual report highlights the coordination and responses to the pandemic. CPP Providers are creative in seeking solutions in providing classroom and at-home learning support for families. We worked with our partnerin-education, Cincinnati Public Schools, to create additional teaching tools. We built Facebook groups, so families and Providers could communicate online. We developed webinars and professional development courses, supplied PPE and masks for all of our Providers, and established ways to order more from suppliers. When-ever there was a need, we responded. This crisis is not over. We must remain flexible and adaptable to address the eventual changes in early childhood education that will come. Everyone can share in the responsibility and be a part of the promises made – to teachers, to Providers, to the community, and most importantly, the promise made to our children. Through innovation, collaboration, and dedicated resources, we can ensure classroom, remote, and digital learning are as seamless as possible. We promised to begin this journey with access to high-quality preschool to give children a strong start on their educational journey. The 2019-2020 school year is much different than an-ticipated. We know that Cincinnati Preschool Promise can deliver on our promise and help the Cincinnati community move forward, regardless of circumstances!
Moving Forward with the Promise Dear Families, Cincinnati Preschool Promise and Cincinnati Public Schools have based our relationship on collaboration. We work together to ensure that Cincinnati preschoolers get the best start on their educational journey. Although our work is independent of each other, our mission to make our 3- and 4-year olds kindergarten-ready unite our efforts. All of our preschool partners, whether Community-based or in schools, are licensed and undergo a rigorous quality rating process. We support all of them in creating nurturing learning environments to prepare preschoolers for kindergarten and beyond. We value our partnership and rely on each other’s strengths. We have learned the importance of resilience and how to go the extra mile to ensure student success. We have engaged our teachers in creating educational tools for distance learning and sent information to the children’s homes to continue distance learning. When immediate family needs were identified, like obtaining food, facial masks, and cleaning supplies, we helped eliminate these obstacles to education. Our success belongs to the Cincinnati community in reimagining early childhood education. Our challenge has been creating an educational system that would do more than enable preschoolers to catch up; it would accelerate their learning process. The resilience of our Educators to maintain their flexibility in meeting new challenges is impressive. They inspire us to imagine new possibilities in supporting their efforts to educate our children regardless of circumstances. Our education model has evolved from an innovative concept to expanding the possibilities for a locally funded, high-quality early childhood education initiative. Our annual report highlights our evolution and provides critical insights and lessons learned from our experiences. We appreciate your continuing support in ensuring every Cincinnati child gets the best possible start on their educational journey. Sincerely,
Chara Fisher Jackson Executive Director & CEO Cincinnati Preschool Promise
Laura Mitchell Superintendent Cincinnati Public Schools
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Staff Chara Fisher Jackson Executive Director & CEO
Sallie Westhemier Interim Executive Director (2019)
HĂŠctor Polanco Finance Director
Florence Malone Outreach & Enrollment Manager
Brittnii Pina Quality Improvement Manager
Kenetra Mathis Program & Evaluation Manager
LaKeisa Ealy Community Engagement & Marketing Manager
Lesley Nunn
Senior Administrative Assistant 513-447-4277 www.cincy-promise.org info@cincy-promise.org
10.5.2020