McMinnville School District’s effort to improve learning outcomes through curriculum was honored at the last week’s Confederation of Oregon School Administrators winter conference. The Excellence in Curriculum Leadership Award recognizes work that has resulted in enhanced student achievement.
The award was presented for the district’s Early Learning Initiative, which includes
- Ready for Kindergarten – The program provides child development curriculum, instruction and resources for parents of underserved children ages birth to five. Parents attend a series of three 90-minute workshops created to promote healthy development.
- Preschool – The district offers six half-day programs at three schools that focus on literacy, numeracy and school readiness.
- Transition camps – The district has offered summer camps to incoming kindergarten and first grade students to acclimate them to the learning environment so that they begin the school year ready to learn.
- Expanded learning opportunities – After-school targeted interventions in reading and math for students in first through third grades.
Children who participate in Ready for Kindergarten as four-year-olds, as well as four-year-olds who attend district preschool programs, have consistently performed above state and district average on the Oregon Kindergarten Assessment.
The Early Learning Initiative programs are provided in partnership with the Yamhill County Community Care Organization and made possible through community support from the McMinnville Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Kiwanis, Soroptimist civic organizations and grants from the Spirit Mountain Foundation, Nike Employee Fund and other foundations.
01 February, 2017