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St. Landry Parish School School Board member Mary Ellen Donatto calls the progress in early childhood education in the parish “amazing.”
“The overwhelming majority of our pre-school programs attached in form or fashion to our school system are in the highest categories as far as rankings are concerned,” she said.
The rankings were presented at the Dec. 3 School Board meeting.
Network gains demonstrated during the 2019-2020 school year include:
— 100% St. Landry Parish Early Childhood Network sites are proficient and above; which is an increase of 14% from the 2017-2018 school year.
— 26% of sites are Excellent; This an increase of 13% in a one year span.
— 60% of sites are High Proficient; This is a newly identified rating.
— 14% of sites are Proficient
— “Excellent” rating in Overall Equitable Access.
— 95% of sites are using a Tier I curriculum; This is an increase of 26% over the last two years.
Two years ago the school system acquired the Head Start program in the parish and implemented a Tier 1 curriculum, according to a district news release.
St. Landry Parish Early Childhood Community Network, which is made up of publicly funded early childhood sites, consists of the St. Landry Parish School Board, St. Landry Parish Head Start Centers, Type III Childcare Centers, and NSECD (Non-Public) schools have been working collaboratively to ensure all children enrolled in their programs receive high-quality care and kindergarten readiness, the news release stated.
Donatto, who was a highly recognized elmentary principal at East Elementary in Eunice before her retirement, said, “The purpose of these early start programs is to get children ready for the primary school.”
The early education lays the foundation for their education. “It is the first time most kids are out of their homes in a structured environment.”
Donatto said, “At age 4, a lot of emphasis is put on the social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs of children because that is the time they are leaving their houses and forming relationships and getting ready for academics.”
Donatto said the early grades are when students build a foundation for success that follows them to higher degrees.
“The importance here is the foundation is laid. Children learn to interact, learn to be curious about academics,” she said
Donatto said the school district seeks to have kindergarten students do math and read and part of a plan to have a pre-K through fourth grade program that builds a strong education foundation.
The accountability rating system ranges for Early Childhood Education Performance Profiles is as follows:
St. Landry Parish Early Childhood Network programs were also among those recognized by the Louisiana Department Of Education for their academic progress. Schools and centers having an Excellent rating on the performance profile include Glendale Elementary, Grand Prairie Elementary, Krotz Springs Elementary, East Elementary, Grand Coteau Elementary, Grolee Elementary, Northeast Elementary, Port Barre Elementary, Park Vista Elementary, Washington Head Start and Heavenly Angels Childcare Center.
Superintendent Patrick Jenkins noted, “Our Early Childhood Education programs and network have steadily improved for the past 4 years in St Landry Parish. Our Early Learning programs have integrated age appropriate technology and Tier I curriculums across the community network. These are just two components of many that have had a positive influence in the lives of our youngest population. The academic progress demonstrated is a testament to the hard work of our students, staff, parents, and our community stakeholders.”