Incorporating Early Learning Strategies in the School Improvement Grants (SIG) Program: How three schools integrated early childhood strategies into school turnaround efforts to improve instruction for all students
This Center School Turnaround (CST) and the Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes (CEELO) publication focuses on case studies of three schools that have used School Improvement Grant (SIG) funds, with the support of their districts, to implement early learning strategies as part of their turnaround models. A significant body of research shows that achievement gaps in persistently low-performing schools manifest, in many instances, prior to children entering kindergarten. High-quality preschool programs have proven to help close these gaps both for individual student subgroups in a school and for the school as a whole.
The practices described in this publication features elementary schools in Massachusetts, Missouri, and Nebraska were gathered through school data reviews and interviews with school, district, and state leaders from both early learning and school improvement offices. Whether or not you are a SIG school or a community that is committed to achieving improved outcomes for your students, hopefully you will find this resource helpful in your efforts to provide all children with opportunities for success beginning with a high-quality early education.