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Expansion of Early Learning and Care in Amarillo for Low-Income FamiliesCASE FOR SUPPORTIntroductionFounded in 1969, Opportunity School provides high-quality educational programs for low-income young children living in Amarillo, Texas. It is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) which emphasizes low children to adult ratios, age-appropriate curriculum and meaningful interactions between child and adults. Since its inception, nearly 4,000 children and their families have benefitted from Opportunity School’s educational programs.Vision for our CommunityOpportunity School envisions a community where today’s young children become lifelong learners and tomorrow’s responsible and contributing members of their families and society. Opportunity School’s MissionBecause of what we know about how children learn and grow and the important brain development that happens during the first three years of life, we know that the period of zero to five is critically important and provides the foundation for all learning. Our mission states that through high-quality early childhood education (years 0-5) and caring family support, Opportunity School equips low-income children and their families to succeed in school and in life. Critical Needs Most of Amarillo is a childcare desert, especially for low-income families. Children at Risk (a Texas Advocacy and Research Group) studied the problem of childcare access in Amarillo. Their findings showed that most of Amarillo has too little childcare and even a more significant deficit in quality programs for low-income families. Low income, working families rely on subsidized childcare. Fifty percent of those families live in a childcare desert where there aren’t enough spots. Ninety-eight percent of low-income children, with working parents, do not have access to Texas Rising Star-certified childcare at all (Texas Rising Star is a quality rating and improvement system for Texas early childhood programs). Programs that participate in TRS meet higher quality standards than many other child care programs.Ten years ago, Amarillo was home to more than 158 licensed childcare programs that accepted childcare subsidies available for low-income families. These licensed programs were housed in individual homes as well as in larger childcare centers. Today, just 96 licensed childcare programs (childcare centers, registered and licensed childcare homes) remain. That’s a decline of 39 percent! And the scarcity of quality early learning and care continues to grow. In 2015, Amarillo lost nearly 200 childcare spots for children 0 -5 years with the closing of the YMCA program’s three locations. In May 2017, the early childhood education programs housed at Palo Duro and Caprock High Schools were eliminated to make way for additional classrooms for High School students. “The elimination of the programs will mean 64 fewer spots for children – 40 spots at Palo Duro High and 24 at Caprock High.” Opportunity School currently serves Northeast Amarillo at our Grand Street campus. This campus offers a full-day, year-round learning program but has the capacity to serve only 65 infants, toddlers and preschoolers who range from 6 weeks old through pre-kindergarten age. We have partnered with Region 16 (Head Start and Early Head Start) since the early years of the Grand Street campus. During the 2017-2018 program year, Region 16 averaged a waitlist of 425 children for Early Head Start (0-3 years) and an average waitlist of 157 children for Head Start (4-year-olds). Amarillo College maintains a waiting list of hundreds of children. These totals reflect only the number of families who actually put their names on a waitlist. The waitlists do not account for the total number of calls that childcare centers receive each week. When families learn that there are no openings, they often will not leave their information to be added to the waitlist. Based on these statistics, it is easy to conclude that there are simply not enough openings in Amarillo’s early learning and childcare centers to meet the demand. Amarillo lacks quality programsAmarillo sorely lacks affordable, high-quality care and learning options for many of our community’s most disadvantaged children. Per Texas Workforce Solutions Panhandle, of the 96 licensed childcare programs in Amarillo, 50 receive childcare subsidy funding (CCS), but only 14 of these programs have chosen to participate in the Texas Rising Star (TRS) program, which is the state’s quality rating system. The star levels (2, 3 and 4 stars) confer a quality distinction that enables highly-rated centers to receive reimbursements well above the base rate in return for providing a better quality of care to low income families.BUT only two centers in Amarillo are both nationally accredited and have achieved the highest 4-star level (Opportunity School’s downtown campus and Amarillo College Lab School). In addition to Opportunity School, there are only six others have reached the 4-star level. Five centers are at the 3-star level. Two centers are at the 2-star level. Quality programs that are also affordable are very difficult to find in Amarillo. Without quality learning and wrap-around services, children of low-income families slip through the cracks. Children who are growing up in the war zone of poverty face an increasingly steep hill in keeping up with their more affluent peers. Based on our experience, there are several challenges that our students face beyond the basic challenge of poverty. Any unexpected expense competes for the resources available to families. At times, something that most people may take for granted can cause a family to spiral into a crisis. Because Opportunity School provides strong relationships and daily communication with parents, many needs can be met through referrals and wrap-around services before problems get overwhelming. Services such as the following can help a family stay on track:High-quality classroom instruction using developmentally appropriate best practices and monitoring student progress and measuring school readiness skills. Parenting and behavioral support through our parent advisory groups, volunteer opportunities and monthly parent visits. Goal-setting and problem-solving as we help families develop goals and work to achieve goals through follow-up and accountability. Identification and support for special needs including speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, sensory integration issues, developmental delays, behavioral and early childhood mental wellness. Support for basic needs including clothing, food insecurity, utilities, and transportation. Emergency/crisis support including referrals for legal issues, counseling and mental health for families and their children. Opportunity School’s SOLUTIONOpportunity School has the expertise, long track record and the right team to address Amarillo’s lack of high-quality, affordable early childhood learning and care. We believe that an effective way to do so is to expand our services so that more low-income families can experience our two-generational approach that combines 1) high-quality early learning and childcare with 2) ongoing family support. Opportunity School is, therefore, in the process of raising funds to build a new learning center specifically designed to serve children and families in the neighborhood near 3rd Street and Ross. This center will provide a new home for our Grand Street program while increasing the number of children being served in Amarillo. This location is halfway between Caprock and Palo Duro High Schools and will be able to serve teen parents, ensuring they have the opportunity to stay in school. Opportunity School’s Board of Directors believes this is a critical need that must be met in our community and has purchased 5+ acres. In the new location, Opportunity School expansion plans would focus on additional infant and toddler classrooms, which are greatly needed in the community. The new building will have the capacity to care for approximately 120 children, doubling our current capacity at Grand Street while maintaining our program at First Presbyterian Church. For sustainability, Opportunity School has a commitment from Region 16 to expand the existing partnership, which provides federal funding for high-quality care for ages 0-3 through the Early Head Start program. Opportunity School’s IMPACTThis expansion will provide much-needed childcare services for families and young children in areas of Amarillo that have the greatest deficit of quality early childhood programs. Providing high-quality childcare programsPartnership with Region 16 Early Head Start program will provide childcare service to students from Palo Duro and Caprock High SchoolsLow-income families in Amarillo will have greater access to childcare servicesOpportunity School partnered with WTAMU to research the impact of Opportunity School on former students who are now 18 years or older. What we learned was that investing in Opportunity School pays off for our community. Former students and their parents believed that Opportunity School had a strong influence on their school success. All of the students contacted had finished HS or gained their GED. 94% had at least some college or vocational education after high school compared to 83.5% for Amarillo in general.32% received a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to 22.3% for Amarillo in general. 2847975106680Highest Level of Education Achieved00Highest Level of Education AchievedEarly childhood education results from Opportunity School are consistent with national studies that have proven the impact of high-quality early childhood education. Building ProjectThe Board of Directors of Opportunity School has determined that the school will need to raise $4.5 million to relocate and expand the current program. To meet the needs of these children, we will need capital and increased operations support. The new early childcare center will include:9 infant and toddler classrooms with restrooms3 preschool classrooms with restroomsEarly intervention/speech therapy roomCommercial Kitchen and PantryInside and outside play areasMultipurpose/training roomTeacher WorkroomAdministrative officesDrop-off areaParkingFurnishingsLandscapingIt is anticipated that construction of the facility will take at least 12 months to complete. There will be no disruption of services to the children currently being served at the Grand Street location.Background and Overview of Opportunity SchoolOpportunity School provides affordable, high-quality preschool education, care, and parent support to approximately 160 economically disadvantaged children each year through two campus-based programs. Every family pays something, and fees are kept affordable.The Central Campus, located in the First Presbyterian Church children's wing, provides excellent part-day and full-day learning to three and four-year-old children with bus transportation. Opportunity School opened the Grand Street Campus in 2000 in an underserved area in Northeast Amarillo. Operating out of the Community of Grace United Methodist Church, this second location collaborates with Early Head Start and Head Start to serve infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with full-day, year-round learning. The current Grand Street campus location is not a workable solution long-term and does not provide room for expansion.We are committed to offering the highest quality early education for the children in our community who need it the most. We have a long track record of success and appreciate the privilege we have to serve children and families in our community. National Accreditation and Quality. In 1986, Opportunity School's Central campus became one of the first early childhood centers in the country to receive accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and it is one of only two childcare centers with this accreditation in the Texas Panhandle today. Only Amarillo College and Opportunity School’s Central campus are nationally accredited. Our goal is to pursue NAEYC accreditation for our Grand Street campus and hope that our ongoing improvements in the facility as well as in the qualifications of our staff at both campuses will help us accomplish this goal. Opportunity School’s Grand Street campus is currently a 3-Star provider. The Texas Rising Star program is the quality rating system for childcare through the state for programs that receive state funding. The Central campus is nationally accredited and is a 4-Star provider. Community Collaborator. One of Opportunity School’s greatest strengths is in the way we collaborate with community partners who come together to serve children and their families. Opportunity School is one of the few programs which has both Head Start and Early Head Start under one roof. We are a long-time participant in the Texas School Ready Project maintained at Amarillo College. We are a member of the No Limits No Excuses community-wide collaboration to encourage educational achievement in our community. Opportunity School partners with the Downtown Women’s Center (DWC) by providing onsite learning and care for infants and toddlers while their moms are in their classes or working. This year we expanded that partnership to add an additional classroom located within Gratitude House complex. This satellite program serves 16 children. Opportunity School partners with the High Plains Food Bank to meet emergency food needs for families we serve. We also partner with First Presbyterian Church and Community Grace Church who generously provide space in their buildings for high-quality early education for the children in our community who need it the most. Our Kids (and parents) are College Bound. In keeping with our philosophy to help children become lifelong learners, we have been designated a No Excuses University preschool. We know that education is the pathway out of poverty, so we are taking our two-generational approach to the next level. Opportunity School is the first in the country to become part of a nationwide network of like-minded schools focused on equipping ALL CHILDREN with the knowledge and skills they need for college if that’s the path they choose to pursue. So, we are planting the seed of college in the hearts and minds of our young students. We are also encouraging parents to consider advancing their own education either through GEDs, enrolling in college or pursuing a certification. Opportunity School is the only Pre-K outside of the public-school system to receive the No Excuses designation. Quality is the Priority at Opportunity School Opportunity School’s current capacity to provide excellent early education and care to approximately 160 children ages six weeks to five years old (until kindergarten-eligible) through two campuses:Central campus, located inside First Presbyterian Church in downtown Amarillo, features both part-day and full-day preschool program for 80 three and four-year-olds. Bus service is provided. Full-day classes are offered to provide learning opportunities for children of families who are working or in school. Two part-day classes are provided on a school year basis. Gratitude House, is a satellite classroom of the Central Campus that is located within the Downtown Women’s Center (DWC), Gratitude House is supervised by the Central campus leadership. This program provides high-quality infant and toddler learning and care for 16 children. We partner with Early Head Start, and women in the DWC program are given priority for enrollment. Mom’s who are part of the DWC program are in recovery classes, college and other courses or working while their children are in care.Grand Street campus, located inside Community of Grace United Methodist Church in northeast Amarillo, is a full-day, year-round learning program for 65 infants, toddlers and preschoolers 6 weeks old through pre-kindergarten age. We collaborate with Early Head Start, Head Start, Texas School Ready, Hillside Church-Grand and other partners at our Grand Street campus. Infant & Toddler Care (For children 6 weeks up to 36 months old)Opportunity School recognizes that the first three years of life are an irreplaceable period of rapid development during which a child’s sense of identity, security, influence and human interdependency are formed. Eighty percent of our brain is wired by the time we are three years old; 90 percent by the time we reach the age of four. Our teachers understand and support children’s developmental milestones, while recognizing that each child’s individual development is unique.? The program supports deep bonds and meaningful, responsive interactions between teacher and child, to help each child become a confident, capable navigator of their world. These positive brain connections and stimuli creates a critical foundation for all learning to come. The school partners with the Early Head Start Program in its infant and toddler classrooms to provide optimal teacher training and excellent environments for each child, including:Low child/teacher ratios of 4:1 and often 3:1 throughout the dayIndividualized plans for learning and care for every child, developed through a partnership with parents.? Each teacher is responsible for the individualized plans of no more than four children.Regular developmental assessments and screenings, including vision, dental, motor and cognitive development.? Assessments and screenings are used to inform individualized lesson plans and to provide appropriate referrals for health and wellness services as needed.A continuity of care model, where teachers stay with a group of children for up to three years, while the environment is changed to meet children’s developmental needs.Monthly individual parent/teacher meetings to allow parents and teachers to learn about and support each child’s needs in partnership with one another.Preschool (For children 3 to 5 years old)Since 1969, Opportunity School has helped over 4,000 children become lifelong learners by providing high-quality early preschool experiences to children from lower-income families. In 1986, the Opportunity School-Central Campus became one of the first early childhood centers in the country to receive accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and it maintains accreditation today.Features that distinguish Opportunity School’s preschool program include:Low child/teacher ratios of 8:1 or lower to allow ample one-on-one teacher support for every child. Each class has a teacher and an assistant teacher.Well-equipped classrooms designed to foster children’s independence and active participation in learning.Parent involvement and education – teachers provide monthly individual sessions with parents/family members to help them understand and support their child’s development.Caring family support provided by teachers and administrative staff to help remove barriers to education including helping connect families to meet basic needs, offering encouragement and support or connecting them with others in the community who may help. Individualized instruction for each child based on his/her developmental needs and learning style.Highly skilled and trained teachers – all Teachers have at least a Child Development Associate certificate or higher or are in the process of obtaining this certification. Many of our teachers hold Associate’s or Bachelor’s degrees. Curriculum:Individual, small group and large group learning activities to help children meet the skills required by the Texas Pre-K Guidelines. High-quality curriculum resources are available for teachers to draw upon for their weekly lesson plans, including Creative Curriculum and DLM (Developmental Learning Materials) Early Childhood Express. Both are state-approved curriculum and based on well-researched models.Designed to meet the full spectrum of children’s developmental needs in all domains of early childhood education and development including:Social, emotional Gross and fine motor skillsEmerging literacy skillsMath and scientific discovery conceptsCreativity and artistic expressionMusicCultural and community awarenessDaily schedules include learning time in large groups, small groups, and individually-chosen work centers, as well as music and outdoor play. Themes based on subjects of interest to young children are planned and provide many choices depending on individual or class interests and levels of development. What Makes Opportunity School Unique?Two generational approachWrap-around servicesSpeech TherapyOn-site speech therapy is provided at no additional cost as needed. The speech therapist provides auditory and language screenings for every child and provides enjoyable yet intensive language development activities for children identified as benefiting from services per screening results. The speech therapist also consults with teachers on language and vocabulary enrichment in their classrooms and assists children in other areas as time permits including potential learning disabilities and behavioral challenges. Parent Education and OutreachOpportunity School helps parents become strong partners in their children’s education through the Parent Education Program. Through regular teacher visits and group meetings, parents learn how to create a strong home learning environment and to understand their child’s developmental stages. Family SupportThis program is the essential component of Opportunity School's mission of helping children and their families "succeed in life.” Without the support system, the school provides during their time at Opportunity School and long after, it would be very difficult for them to succeed. Families living in poverty struggle with issues that make daily living difficult and also can impair the learning and development of the student. Our families often need help with basic needs, adequate transportation, and unfortunately sometimes protect themselves and their children from unhealthy domestic situations. We connect families with resources to maintain consistency of learning for their child. Scholarships & Tuition AssistanceOpportunity School families pay fees on sliding scales that take into account income, number of family members and assistance they are currently receiving. Even parents paying the maximum amount on our fee scale are still paying less than half of the true cost of services provided at Opportunity School. This is only possible because of scholarship support.FinancesOpportunity School’s annual budget is $2,113,292, which includes in-kind donations. We work hard to have diversified revenue sources, such as student fees, investment income, and government sources that support early learning. The largest percentage of our revenue comes from the local community, including individuals, families, local churches, family foundations, and trusts.Sustainability of ProjectThe new campus project will be sustained in subsequent years by program revenues, increases in the Region 16 Early Head Start contract revenue and reimbursements for childcare for low-income families. We anticipate savings from building repairs and inefficiencies to help at the new location. We also realize that funding from donations will need to increase. Our plan is to fill capacity in phases so that program quality can be maintained while donations increase. Leadership TeamJill Goodrich is the Executive Director of Opportunity School. She followed her passion for children and education when she joined the Opportunity School staff in September 2011. Previous to her role, she spent six years working at McCormick Company, a marketing communications agency in Amarillo, serving as Vice‐President for Account Service. Prior to that, Jill worked in Kansas City at Fleishman‐Hillard, a communications company, for nine years. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska and her Master of Business Administration from West Texas A&M University. Jill is familiar with Opportunity School after having spent six years serving on the Board, including a term as President of the Board. In 2009, Jill was named one of the top 20 business professionals under 40 by the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce. She and her husband Russ are parents to four children and are active in school, church and community activities. Lesley Webb, Program Quality Director, joined Opportunity School in 2016 after 12 years with Region 16, most recently as Behavior Specialist. Lesley's undergraduate degree is from Texas Tech in Human Development, and she has a master’s degree in Counseling. Lesley has had extensive training in Conscious Discipline and attended the Conscious Discipline S.T.A.R Conference and Summer Institute. Lesley oversees our classroom program to ensure we are meeting all necessary program standards and quality measures as well as providing leadership for our training and professional development program.?Vonda Grantham, Central Campus Site Director, has worked at Opportunity School for over 10 years in a variety of administrative positions and currently oversees our daily campus operations and meeting compliance requirements at the downtown campus. Previously she served as a director with the YMCA at the Midtown location. Vonda is?in the process of gaining her associate degree at Amarillo College.?Kris Optiz, Grand Street Site Director, has returned to Opportunity School after a long absence. She worked under Betsy Singleton in the early 2000s starting out as a cook and then became a classroom teacher. She returned in 2016 as an infant and toddler teacher and most recently serves as our site director for the Grand Street Campus. Kris holds an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education.?Cindy Grimaldo, Business Manager, has a long history working with nonprofits and small businesses. Cindy joined Opportunity School in 2015 after serving at Camp Fire. She holds her associate degree from Amarillo College and is working on a bachelor’s degree in Management at Wayland Baptist University.Officers:Martha Del Toro, PresidentBre King, Vice PresidentTaylor Kelley, TreasurerAtisha Loone, SecretaryVicki Wilmarth, Past PresidentTrustees: Stephanie BowenBrittany BellinghausenSpencer Caviness Meaghan CollierJeremiah Cunningham Tiffany GibsonMelodie Graves Brett Hall Shauneen HatfieldCaroline HawkinsChuck KitsmanPetra KommavongsaJennilee LoveladyJohn LutzBonnie RogersJake ScottLizzie Smith Joan UrbanRichard WaltonSuzanne WheelerCindi WyniaElaine Edwards, Honorary Board MemberConclusionFor over fifty years, Opportunity School has proven its ability to help low-income children and their families to succeed in school and life. Expanding the Grand Street Campus will have a huge impact on low-income children and their families: ensuring a high-quality childcare program, equipping families with positive parenting skills and giving young parents the opportunity to complete their education while rising above poverty.“As a single mom, I knew that the only way I could change the future for my children was to get a good job; all of which required more education than a high school degree. I knew it was up to me to change my future for me and my children. Without Opportunity School, I would not be where I am today. Without having a caring and nurturing learning environment for my two girls, I would not be able to focus on work and school. It means everything to have the support system … I’m a better parent and student with their help.” America Adame, single parent of two girls, graduated from Amarillo College in December 2016 and from WTAMU in May 2018. She is planning to begin a master’s program in the fall. Opportunity School continues to strive for excellence in every one of its efforts, providing a safe and thriving space for children to grow during those early, most formative years. Just as we carefully steward these little lives, we must also care for our campuses and make them work effectively to serve children and families. Thank you for taking the time to consider partnering with us on this project. 123824269240Mission:Through high quality early childhood education (0-5) and caring family support, Opportunity School equips low income children and their families to succeed in school and in life. 00Mission:Through high quality early childhood education (0-5) and caring family support, Opportunity School equips low income children and their families to succeed in school and in life. ................
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