With data showing that prenatal to three-years-old is a critical period in a child’s educational development, Dallas ISD is launching an effort to connect young families with high quality early learning opportunities.
District leaders briefed trustees on April 8 on Project Legacy 2050. Along with the coalition of partners, Dallas ISD wants to expand early learning opportunities to younger children to get them pre-k ready.
“We want to make the experience of raising children easier for families by connecting them with partners and places that offer crucial services for the development of our youngest children,” Deputy Superintendent Susana Cordova said.
Brain development, social and emotional skills, and language and literacy development happen as soon as a child is born. Those skills play a big role in a child’s future success.
Investing in an initiative like Project Legacy 2050 will help Dallas ISD and other school districts in three areas:
- Education – a child’s life sets an early cognitive foundation for the rest of life;
- Economy – parents can work while their children are receiving high quality childcare, which will impact the economy in a positive way;
- Equity – high quality childcare would be more accessible to low-income students of color, particularly in communities at a higher disadvantage.
District leaders have begun conversations with community partners, superintendents from districts in Dallas County and urban council districts to form a coalition to support Project Legacy 2050. The coalition will advocate, support and mobilize high quality early learning for children prenatal to three through services and resources needed for their early development, including housing, transportation, health, and childcare.
Administrators are aiming to have finalize an action plan for Project Legacy 2050 in the winter.
