PEABODY — Peabody Public Schools has received a $131,980 state grant, which the district will use to help parents and caregivers prepare their children for early education.
Awarded by the state Department of Early Education and Care, the ParentChild+ of the North Shore program aims to equip parents — as their children’s first teachers — with early learning specialists who provide families with high-quality learning tools, books and toys.
Families are also given guidance aimed at promoting parent-child interaction; developing language, early literacy and social-emotional skills; and building school readiness.
A total of 48 children can participate in the program, which is run out of the Peabody school district but also serves Salem families. Peabody is capped at 21 children and Salem is allowed 27.
ParentChild+ is just one component of the district’s early education programs. Peabody and eight other North Shore communities — Beverly, Boxford, Danvers, Marblehead, Middleton, Salem, Swampscott and Topsfield — offer services through the Coordinated Family and Engagement (CFCE) Network of the North Shore. It is funded by a $242,118 grant to the Peabody Public Schools through the state Department of Early Education and Care.
“Our main goal is to support parents as their children’s first teachers,” said CFCE of the North Shore and ParentChild+ Director Donna Connelly. “The priority is low-income families and we provide hub-based centers in each community at places like Essex Tech and various churches. They give families a chance for playgroups as well as the benefit of outreach.”
ParentChild+ is an evidence-based school readiness model that preempts the achievement gap by providing young children and their parents with learning tools and skills.
To support healthy development and educational success, families receive 32 twice-weekly, one-on-one 30-minute visits with a trained early learning specialist. Parents are also provided with connections to community resources, educational services and free access to the Ages and Stages developmental and social-emotional questionnaires.
“We also address things like food resources and childcare needs, so it is really about going back to the old-school style,” Connelly said.
ParentChild+ of the North Shore says that, compared to their peers who do not participate in the program, ParentChild+ graduates entering school perform 10 months above their chronological age. In addition, they are 50 percent more likely to be prepared for kindergarten, score 2.5 times higher on social-emotional skill assessments and have a 30 percent higher graduation rate.
Connelly said Peabody has also been selected to participate in the EEC Family Ambassadors program, which offers virtual training to parent leaders.
“We are thrilled to be accepted as ambassadors this year,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Josh Vadala. “The program supports a number of families with preschool-aged children.”
Connelly said the city is looking to hire additional staff for its programs to replace former employees who left when the city’s programs went virtual.
“We’re looking for people who are bubbly, fun and energetic to sing songs and read books,” said Connelly.
Parents and caregivers of children from 16 months to 4 years old from Peabody and Salem are eligible to apply for the ParentChild+ program at: www.pcplusofthenorthshore.com or by calling 978-536-6543.
Participants for the Family Ambassadors program are eligible to receive up to $800 in stipends. Registration is open through July 23, with training beginning in mid-August. To register, call Connelly at 978-536-6543 or send her an email at [email protected].
