First 8 executive director Dr. Kandace Thomas
Amidst all the uncertainty of 2020, pre-k enrollment numbers are down in Memphis and Shelby County. While it’s not compulsory, young children who attend pre-k programs have access to a host of services that benefit both students and parents. To keep the Memphis community keyed in to such programs, First 8 partnered with 12 operators around the city to offer year-round enrollment.
For First 8 executive director Dr. Kandace Thomas, it was crucial that parents knew of the resources at their disposal. “We’re excited to be able to put the campaign out there,” she says. “We want to remind families that, even though we are in a pandemic, many of our pre-k programs are virtual, they’re still operating, and there is still access to the supports we provide.”
Many studies have shown that pre-k offers a solid foundation for kids that will reap dividends down the line. “For many families,” explains Thomas, “pre-k is their first involvement with schooling – or any sort of care – outside the home. It can be hard for a child to transition from being at home with family every day to kindergarten. There are assessments, more things are required of them, they have to listen to a teacher and follow instruction, and regulate their emotions. Pre-k gets them ready for that.”
So far, partner programs include Shelby County Schools, Bartlett City Schools, Millington Municipal Schools, Porter-Leath Pre-K, U of M Barbara K. Lipman Early Learning and Research Center, Libertas School of Memphis, Cornerstone Prep Denver Campus, Achievement School District, and Perea Preschool. With year-round enrollment, parents can call one of the providers at any time and have their child enrolled in a matter of days. Partner institutions must meet First 8’s set of requirements, which include enrollment and attendance data collection, family engagement programs on offer, and participation in monthly pre-k operator meetings. Students are also provided with the necessary devices to attend the virtual classrooms.
In addition to early schooling, First 8 partners offer a variety of wrap-around and comprehensive services to families. “We’re able to provide some services that they may not have if they weren’t in a First 8 classroom,” says Thomas. “These include physical and mental health screenings for each child. There’s a family assessment tool that we use to gauge needs; if a family has a need for help with food, our providers connect them with food banks. If a family needs housing stabilization, our providers link them with housing organizations.
To provide a one-stop resource for parents seeking more information about pre-k, enrollment, and participating programs, First 8 created prekmemphis.com
For more information on why early education is important for children, read Memphis Parent’s Q&A with Next Memphis director Chloe Moore.