Terrebonne’s pre-K program touted for giving 4-year-olds needed start

Terrebonne Parish school system’s early childhood education program is receiving high marks.

The Center for Child Development at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette is the latest institution to tout the quality of the pre-kindergarten program.

According to end-of-the-year statistics, Terrebonne’s four-year-olds are better prepared for kindergarten after completing a year in the district’s pre-K program.

“The growth of the students and the independence they show when it’s time for them to head to kindergarten is amazing,” said Clyde Hamner, principal of Williams Avenue Pre-K Academy, where the majority of the parish pre-K students are housed because of lack of space at the other schools.

“We take pride in preparing the students for kindergarten,” he added.

In 2006, Terrebonne Parish schools served approximately 333 pre-K students. Each of the students showed significant improvements when comparing pre-test and post-test scores in the areas of language arts, print and mathematics.

This year’s enrollment stands at more than 900 students, nearly triple the 2006 enrollment.

Hamner attributes the growth to the partnership with the state’s LA 4 program.

Although many of the students entered the program far behind their peers educationally, Hamner said, after one year in the program, they showed tremendous growth, performing at or above the national pre-K standards.

Students in the program are scored on the Early Childhood Evaluations Rating Scale (ECERS). In addition, the Terrebonne Parish school district has adopted the DLM Pre-K Express program, which is a structured pre-K curriculum addressing the state’s comprehension level.

“Terrebonne Parish has made a tremendous investments in its children by providing this level of pre-K education,” Billy Ray Stokes, ULL child development center director, said in a release. “Our statewide data on pre-K clearly shows that these improvements follow students as they progress through school.”

“Students who participated in the high quality pre-K programs such as LA 4 show reduced retention rates, reduce placement in special education and an increase in overall students achievement,” Stokes added. “We will be interested in knowing whether their gains can be maintained through middle and high schools, and then on to college.”

Parish Early Childhood Coordinator Michele Olsen said the school district has applied for nine additional LA 4 pre-K classes for next term at Bourg Elementary, Southdown Elementary, Williams Avenue Pre-K Academy, Broadmoor Elementary and Mulberry Elementary schools.

“We have an awesome program here in the parish,” Olsen said, “and we welcome all four year olds.”

With over 900 youngsters enrolled, Terrebonne Parish’s early childhood education program students are showing marked improvement in pre-K tests. * Photo by SOPHIA RUFFIN