DEPARTMENT: Pre-K 4 SA
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Sarah Baray, Ph.D.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Proposed Educare School
SUMMARY:
This item includes a briefing of a proposed Educare school to be built by Texas A&M University San Antonio to serve approximately 255 young children and their families. Pre-K 4 SA is a partner on this project.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In 2019, Pre-K 4 SA led the effort to establish Early Matters San Antonio-a coalition of business, civic, and education leaders committed to improving outcomes for young children in San Antonio. The Early Matters Steering Committee consisted of more than a dozen business and community leaders and was co-chaired by Peter J. Holt and Joe Straus.
The Early Matters Steering Committee studied the current state of early learning and care in San Antonio and developed a set of recommendations. One of the recommendations included establishing an Educare School in San Antonio.
Educare is an early learning and care model based on research from child development, social work, and education. The Educare approach includes four core components: data utilization, embedded professional development, high-quality teaching practices, and intensive family engagement. The first Educare school launched in 2000 in Chicago. The network now consists of 26 schools in 16 states serving children from birth through age 5. Educare San Antonio would be the first network school in Texas.
Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President of Texas A&M San Antonio (TAMUSA) served on the Early Matters Steering Committee along with Dr. Carl Sheperis, Dean of the TAMUSA College of Education. Following the Steering Committee recommendation to open an Educare school, Texas A&M has worked with Start Early, the parent organization of Educare, to lay the groundwork for opening an Educare school near the TAMUSA campus. Pre-K 4 SA has been a partner in the planning process.
ISSUE:
This item includes a briefing of a proposed Educare...
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