Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
DALLAS (CBS11) – With little more than a week remaining before the new school year begins, DISD staffers are taking to the pavement in an all-out push to fill empty seats in the district’s Pre-K and three-year-old early childhood program.
“The middle of August [is] not best time to be walking,” admitted Assistant Superintendent of Early Learning Derek Little with a laugh, “but, we as a team felt it was really important to come out and let our families know about the great things DISD is doing.”
On what would become the hottest day of the year in North Texas, the door-to-door effort was about as ‘hands-on’ an appeal as you could get… with staffers and volunteers touting the ‘win-win’ of engaging children early.
“Experts say 90 percent of development occurs before a child turns five,” said Little. “They’re building the academic skills to be able to read, to be able to write, to be able to have a conversation. And they’re building the social emotional skills to be able to work as a team, to be able to get along with people of other cultures…so all of what we take for granted as adults, and as citizens, that foundation begins here in early learning.”
DISD began the full day Pre-K program for four-year-olds last year. There’s also a half day program for three-year-olds. The district made a public push then to enroll eligible families. Still, Friday’s door-to-door effort confirmed what was in many ways suspected—that families were being missed.
“I know the early childhood department has done such a great job of getting the message out there,” said Dominique McCain. “But, even people in the communities of these schools still didn’t know, so this is a great effort.”
McCain typically works to help recruit Pre-K teachers. But, even on a miserably hot day, was ‘cool’ with pounding the pavement to help enroll more students.
“Word of mouth is always the best advertising,” said McCain. “We’re hoping that some of the grandparents that we met, some of the people that we met with will contact their friends and let them know. If they live in DISD we want to support them with their three and four-year-olds.”
By day’s end, teams that fanned out across the city had knocked on roughly 2,000 doors and spoken with 650 families. Many of those asked for information and enrollment forms—the weeks ahead will tell if the effort paid off in extra enrollment.
But, McCain says the mom’s excitement with the visit is encouraging.
“She was very excited and she said she wants her daughter—who’s going to be three-years-old soon–in a program so that she can go back to school, so that was exciting to hear.”
“One family at a time,” said Little, “this has been worth it.”
(©2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
