The FIRST 5 Santa Clara County Power of Preschool (PoP) is a pilot project dedicated to providing early education opportunities to children and families for whom such opportunities would otherwise not be available, while advocating for quality learning opportunities for young children throughout the County.

The purpose of the FIRST 5 Power of Preschool Pilot Project is two-fold:

1. To provide the highest quality, free, voluntary preschool program for 4-year old children (and 3-year olds when spaces are available) in targeted communities, with additional child and family supports; and
2. To promote high quality early learning opportunities throughout the County through professional development, education, awareness and advocacy.

The overarching goal of Power of Preschool is to assist children in becoming personally, socially, emotionally, and physically competent and effective learners who are ready to transition into kindergarten.

Power of Preschool is a multi-year project that builds on and integrates with existing public and private early care and education programs and partnerships. Program sites will be located in four school districts with the lowest Academic Performance Index (API) scores: San Jose Unified, Alum Rock, Franklin-McKinley and Gilroy Unified. School attendance areas in these districts were also identified through other research projects to be those high-priority/underserved communities with multiple risk factors and the highest number of children under the age of six. These areas are further defined as those with a low supply of licensed early childhood programs relative to the density of children birth through five years of age.

Through a high level of collaboration, early educators will work with community partners to identify 4-year old children (and 3-year olds when spaces are available) who are appropriate for each early learning environment. Once identified, children will be placed in an early learning environment and further screened and assessed to identify any delays/disabilities and/or other child and family needs and interests.

Coordinated child/family success plans will be developed that will identify the needed supports and services; which may include one or both of the other components of the three-part model: home visitation and therapeutic interventions and family support, as well as other community services.

Ongoing classroom support for the early educators will be another essential element provided by community partners. Together, educators and their community partners will support the child and family through this preschool experience and successful transition to Kindergarten.

QUOTES FROM PARTICIPANTS:

“The staff and teachers opened my eyes, letting me know that every child should have confidence, imagination, and communication.”
–Hunceker Family

“Lovely to see Rosemary (the teacher) and Olga (the artist) working together to bring a story to life, and children expressing their thoughts about the story” – Terry Russell-Power of Preschool administrator, San Jose Unified School District

“They (the children) don’t even realize they are actually learning. They have fun.” –Rosemary Zavala Power of Preschool teacher, San Jose Unified School District