PRE4CLE is a plan to ensure all of Cleveland’s children can enroll in a high-quality preschool program that helps build the academic and social skills necessary to be successful in kindergarten, school, and life. PRE4CLE partners with public and private preschool programs to provide the training and tools needed to improve their quality ratings from the State of Ohio so they can deliver high-quality preschool experiences to Cleveland’s children. PRE4CLE helps expand high-quality preschool in two ways: In neighborhoods where quality programs exist, PRE4CLE provides funding and resources to rapidly expand their programs. In neighborhoods where there are a large number of children with no access to high quality, PRE4CLE offers tools, training, and resources so providers can increase their quality ratings. PRE4CLE helps Cleveland parents and families find and enroll their preschoolers in high-quality programs in their neighborhood. PRE4CLE’s work to connect Cleveland’s children to high-quality preschool is supported by research that shows high-quality preschool lifts the overall education outcomes for a community and helps children do better throughout their academic careers. PRE4CLE collaborates with early learning, K–12, government, philanthropic, and private sector partners, and aligns their expertise to expand access to high-quality preschool for Cleveland’s children. PRE4CLE provides resources and strategic leadership to accelerate the availability of high-quality preschool, by increasing quality, expanding high-quality preschool slots, and connecting families to high-quality preschool opportunities. PRE4CLE connects providers to technical and financial assistance to impart research-based curriculum, purchase new classroom tools, offer professional staff development, and increase teachers’ salaries, which will help providers improve their state Step Up to Quality ratings. PRE4CLE removes barriers for families to access high-quality preschool, conducts outreach and communication to families on the importance of preschool, and connects families to high-quality preschools for their 3- and 4- year-old children. Why does PRE4CLE's work matter? PRE4CLE offers the tools parents, families, and providers need to help them deliver high-quality preschool experiences to Cleveland’s children, which prepare them for success in kindergarten and life. With more than half of Cleveland’s children entering kindergarten unprepared and already behind academically, the preschool years provide a crucial window to show children how to be successful students and inspire their love of learning. When all young children have high-quality early learning and development experiences, there are significant economic and community benefits, including increased graduation rates, increased economic well-being for all communities, and the development of a high-quality professional workforce. Research has shown that 90% of a child’s brain connections are developed by the time a child is 5 years old; high-quality early childhood education maximizes learning during that key window of time. Why should people care about PRE4CLE? PRE4CLE plays an important role in preparing Cleveland’s children for academic success and bolstering their social skills through connecting families to high-quality preschool programs and accelerating the expansion of the number of high-quality preschool options available. High-quality preschool programs provide an enriching early learning curriculum and qualified teachers to prepare children for success in school and in life. When our community invests in high-quality early childhood education, we see a long-term reward by building the skills of our future workforce from an early age. Kindergarteners that are well prepared eventually become high school graduates and successful citizens.
