Early Grade Success
Our Investment Philosophy
With 90 percent of a child’s brain being developed by age 5, it is important to lay the foundation for learning during that stage of growth. As a result, the Foundation’s work in Early Grade Success reflects a focus on building and strengthening sustainable early childhood education systems that create quality early learning environments for children; improving access to and the quality of early childhood professional development for teachers, administrators and practitioners; and bridging the early childhood and K-3 education systems to help young children transition successfully into kindergarten and read at grade level by the end of third grade.
$721,000
Dual Language Learners — ASU Foundation for a New American University
In partnership with Arizona State University (ASU), Childsplay and the Osborn School District in Phoenix, this investment will provide two-way immersion (English-Spanish and Spanish-English) early childhood education learning opportunities for children. There are two components to this investment. The first is a research component in which Helios and ASU will explore effective methodologies and practices for creating pathways to early grade success and dual language learning professional development for teachers. The second component is programmatic in nature and will utilize the EYEPlay model, developed by Childsplay to provide professional development activities for preschool educators who teach core content in both Spanish and English to a mixture of native Spanish and English speaking children.
$1,200,000
Florida Grade Level Reading Campaign — Florida Children’s Council
The Florida Grade Level Reading Campaign will create shared momentum mobilized around quality early childhood experiences that impact later life outcomes, including high school completion and college and career readiness. Florida will benefit from the development of a statewide Grade Level Reading Campaign, designed to maximize the collective impact of the local and state efforts of organizations working on early childhood and afterschool initiatives.
$415,000
Neighborhood School Readiness Collaborative — Make Way for Books
The Neighborhood School Readiness Collaborative will provide opportunities for thousands of children to enter school ready to read and succeed. The project will yield comprehensive early literacy programming for children ages birth to five that is focused and coordinated in twelve high-need neighborhoods surrounding Tucson Unified School District elementary schools.