Early education outcomes are core social determinants of health, and literacy is critical for early learning. In the 2013 report, "Early Warning Confirmed", the Annie E. Casey Foundation reported that, "Children with the lowest (3rd grade) reading scores account for 33% of all students, yet they account for 63% of all children who do not graduate from high school." In Central Oregon, literacy rates at Kindergarten entry and in third grade show significant disparities between Latino children and their non-Latino peers. In the 16-17 school year, Latino children in Central Oregon scored significantly lower than their peers on letter names and sounds on the statewide kindergarten readiness assessment. Fewer than 33% of Latino students in our region meet or exceed literacy standards by third grade, compared with over 60% of their non-Latino peers. The data indicate the clear need in our region to support early literacy development among this population of children.
"We have heard great things from the parents about how much they love the program. They feel a sense of community and a place where they can gather and have conversations in their own language. They feel safe, welcome, and understood. They get to share and have conversations in the classroom and it makes them feel like other parents also understand their struggles and difficulties while navigating the systems that are set in place in this country."
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- Through an evidence-based curriculum, the program invites parents and children ages 3-5 to work together on early literacy skills in Spanish for one to three years prior to entering Kindergarten.
- The program is implemented by Better Together Central Oregon.
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The project is attempting to achieve the following:- Outputs: 3 elementary schools implement Juntos Aprendemos; 150 families served over two years; 2,100 Spanish books distributed to children;
- Short-Term Outcomes (at the end of two-years): Kindergarten readiness assessment scores; Parents report feeling safe and welcome in schools; Parents report seeing themselves as "the first teacher" to their child; school districts and High Desert ESD sustain and expand the program
- Long-term Goals: Early literacy gaps are eliminated for Latino children; Latino parent engagement in schools is strong; School Districts invest in Early Learning; Latino young adults are thriving in middle and high school
52 children and 57 adults were served in 2019. By 6/30/2021, 150 Latino families in Bend and Redmond participated in a culturally relevant and sustaining early learning program before starting Kindergarten.
By week 17 of the program, some of the 4-5yr olds write their names all on their own or with very little help from the teachers. Parents who participated in Juntos Aprendemos with their children are now participating as volunteer or staff in our program providing culturally specific Early Learning Education or returned with another/second child.
We hear the kids recognizing the number, colors, and animals when we review them. It all seems very repetitive but we really want to reinforce what they are learning during our short period together. Children are having more conversations in Spanish with our teachers. The maestras will have conversations with the kids during snack time about what they are eating and what color the fruit is.
When we received COHC funding we started with a 10-week pilot program in Bend and Redmond. Now we have four 30-week programs, two in the Bend-La Pine school District and two in the Redmond School District and will be starting a pilot program in Jefferson county this Spring.
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- Juntos Aprendemos has been implemented over the last 16 years through the Latino Network in Multnomah County, and they have seen significant increases in parent involvement and ultimately children's literacy scores as a direct result. They are looking to expand this work across the state, and Central Oregon will be the first pilot community in that expansion.
- The primary activities to date have included parent outreach and engagement, curriculum implementation and refinement, training local parents to be paid facilitators in the classroom, and developing sustainability plans.
This project builds upon the already substantial strengths of our Latino community by ensuring that the culture of family support is integrated into school settings.
Through an evidence-based curriculum, the program invites parents and children ages 3-5 to work together on early literacy skills in Spanish for one to three years prior to entering Kindergarten.
We have seen a lot of growth and improvement in all 3 of our classrooms.
We are pleased with the growth of the work to date, and look forward to further development in the next two years!