Forsyth County Pre-K initiative yields academic and social-emotional growth

It’s been one year since Forsyth County and the city of Winston-Salem granted $4 million of American Rescue Plan Act funding to The Pre-K Priority, a collaboration of organizations committed to early childhood education. 

The money went toward meeting high-quality Pre-K program standards in 30 classrooms.

Teachers had success coaches and salary supplements. Families had advocates who helped them set goals and connect with resources for things like transportation and food. And students were able to learn in enriching environments. 

President and CEO of Family Services Traci Ross spoke about these efforts Monday night at an event celebrating the one-year mark for the cohort. 

“These are not your grandmother's Pre-K classrooms," Ross said. "Our Pre-K Model Cohort Classroom initiative is complex, but it's not complicated. There are many moving parts, but they are all moving in harmony.”

And the results are promising. 

According to the one-year impact report, students saw major gains in literacy development. Nearly half of students were below expectations at the beginning of the year. But by the end, only 8% were at that level, while 72% were meeting expectations and 20% were above. 

The results were similar in math and social-emotional development.  

Educators benefited too. Paige Oliver, a teacher in one of the cohort classrooms, said she was given tuition assistance to pursue a certificate in early childhood education. 

“It was definitely the support that me and my children needed," Oliver said. "I have three children. It is expensive just having one child. So I definitely felt supported, and it just kind of motivated me to go ahead and get that done.”

There is one year of funding left for the initiative.

Amy Diaz covers education for WFDD in partnership with Report For America. You can follow her on Twitter at @amydiaze.