Early-learning program showing substantial gains

The examination of the initiative spearheaded by the county Office of Education, Board of Supervisors and Silicon Valley Community Foundation is the first data of its kind available since The Big Lift launched in 2012.

San Mateo County Superintendent Anne Campbell celebrated the gains of the program serving 2,000 students in Daly City, East Palo Alto, San Bruno, Half Moon Bay, Daly City, La Honda-Pescadero, South San Francisco and Redwood City.

“I am heartened to see the progress our children are making, which means The Big Lift is on the right track,” she said in a prepared statement. Many of the children benefiting from the program come from families earning about $50,000 annually, which it has been noted is nearly half the income identified by regional agencies needed to survive amidst the high cost of living locally.

While much of the program focuses on building language and reading skills among students preparing for kindergarten, The Big Lift’s initiative to quell summer learning loss is offering benefits too, according to the report.

Those who in the summer break program offered by curriculum provider Building Educated Leaders for Life and county libraries showed reading progress as opposed to students not participating who can lose up to two months of learning, according to the report.

Diana Harlick, early learning quality improvement initiative coordinator at the county Office of Education, said metrics highlighting learning gains are rewarding for program operators.

“It’s really exciting and heartwarming,” she said.

Beyond expanding preschool access, The Big Lift also focuses on cutting down on absenteeism through parent outreach and offering data regarding the value of assuring students are in school each day.

Harlick noted the communication continues after school to encourage parents to focus on improving their child’s reading and language skills at home as well. As a result, The Big Lift students are 10 percent more likely to read at home than those not in the program, according to the report.

The Big Lift also hosts workshops designed to build community for parents to make them feel more comfortable investing in their child’s education through developing a social network of like-minded families.

“The parents are the most critical part of this equation,” said Harlick. “Research shows this time and time again.”

Research also shows the value of the early education support offered by The Big Lift, as students who fall behind in language and reading skills by third-grade suffer a much more difficult path to long-term school success.

In the effort to expand access to programs better preparing students, Campbell noted The Big Lift’s rare approach to offering a variety of badly needed academic supports.

“The Big Lift is unique because we’re the only initiative we’re aware of that combines two years of quality preschool, an inspiring summer enrichment program focused on STEM, attendance awareness and family engagement,” she said in an email. “Most other initiatives have done just one of the four, not all four together.”

Yet despite its success, hurdles remain ahead for The Big Lift as officials seek to further expand the program’s reach.

Federal legislators eliminated money available through the Social Innovation Fund launched by former President Barack Obama, resulting in the loss of as much as $15 million for the local initiative.

Campbell said the funding slash reduced the program’s ability to reach all the communities and students it stands to help.

“Unfortunately, with the change in administrations, that funding has disappeared and so we’re feverishly fundraising to make up that loss. So, the biggest hurdle is definitely funding,” she said. “As we look to the future, the biggest challenge will be identifying a sustainable funding source.”

The program receives funding support from its corporate partners as well as county tax revenue, but officials have suggested a separate tax measure benefiting the program may be in order.

As it stands, Campbell said the program is about $4.5 million short of its $8.5 million goal required to keep The Big Lift going during the 2018-2019 school year.

Despite the financial hurdles, Harlick said educators wish to keep their eye on the positive results shown by the program as they look to track further gains for students in coming years.

“We are not resting on our laurels. There is still room to grow. So we see this as an opportunity to go deeper and do better by these kids,” she said.

austin@smdailyjournal.com

(650) 344-5200 ext. 105