The Together Initiative Network (TIN), which includes a number of Pequea Valley area entities such as churches, ministries, and the school district, has set a goal of having 90% of local children reading by third grade and reading proficiently by fourth grade.
At a TIN meeting on Nov. 17, 2021, organization members outlined the impact of reaching this aim. Tim Rogers, pastor at Grace Point Church and a TIN founder, said that the hope is to take the percentage of students reading proficiently from the current 62% up to 90% in five years. "Data tells us kids are 10 times more likely to end up in generational poverty if they're not reading by third grade," reported Rogers.
Pequea Valley School District (PVSD) superintendent Erik Orndorff noted that the ability to read affects a student's life goals. "We always talk about trying to give each kid (his or her) first choice (of career)," said Orndorff, who noted that simply encouraging students to attend college is not necessarily the best course of action. "We look at interests, needs, and wants, and think about how we find a path for (a student where he or she) will be independent and fulfilled in a job. That's what we try to do here at PV."
Assistant superintendent Rich Eby expounded on Orndorff's comments, saying, "We want every learner to have an opportunity to get their postsecondary first choice so they can (reap the benefits)," he said. Eby pointed to efforts the district is making to help improve parents' skills in working with their children to improve literacy. Eby also mentionted that PVSD offers prekindergarten education via the new Pequea Valley Early Learning Center (PVELC), which opened recently. He stated that these programs can help prepare children socially, emotionally, and academically for kindergarten.
It is director of early learning Lisa Eckert's role to implement the district programs Eby spoke about. Eckert noted that early learning is key, and she discussed four areas in which the district is active: outreach, play-and-learns, kindergarten transition, and home visits. She pointed to the Imagination Library program as an example of an outreach, saying, "The more books we have in homes, the more access children have to reading." Play and learns involve open gyms and story times that are intended to develop social and emotional learning and sharing skills. Kindergarten transition helps families to come to know the district and provides information about supports and resources during the year prior to kindergarten, and home visits bring a professional educator to the families to offer support with being the best possible parents. Finally, Eckert noted that Urban Outfitters in Gap has provided prekindergarten scholarships. "We have six children at the PVELC going to prekindergarten who would not otherwise be able to afford it," she said.
More information and opportunities to donate to the program may be found at http://www.pequeavalley.org.
Leave a Review