North Montgomery’s Early Learning Academy programs at the district’s elementary schools have reached an all-time high in quality accreditation.
Superintendent Dr. Colleen Moran announced the achievement at the district’s most recent board meeting: Pleasant Hill, Sugar Creek and Sommer have all gained a Quality Level 3 status through the Indiana Department of Education.
Among other highlights of reaching the third level, the status comes with reduced or waived fees for preschool-age students and their families.
“That means there is voucher money available for students who cannot afford preschool — that is huge,” Moran said. “We’re super excited.”
Pleasant Hill and district Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction Coordinator Anthony Tharp pioneered the program for all three elementary schools as recent renovations were not complete in time for the 2019-20 school year.
“Pleasant Hill led the charge; we had to wait a year to get the other two schools up to speed,” Moran said. “That has been a huge undertaking and Mr. Tharp has been instrumental on that.”
Quality Level 3 through the IDOE is the second-highest accreditation possible and is awarded to a preschool program when it reaches the “planned curriculum” stage of a four-tiered system. First on the list is health and safety, followed by learning environments, planned curriculum and finally, national accreditation.
After enrolling in the Paths to Quality rating and improvement system, schools can reach the various levels of accreditation. Other benefits in addition to reduced fees include free technical assistance, professional development, incentives for level advancement (typically $1,000 for each level advancement) and higher reimbursement rates.
“Local education agencies looking to improve long-term student outcomes, accelerate educational progress and close achievement gaps cannot afford to ignore the early years,” the IDOE’s Early Learning Guidebook reads. “Children show accelerated gains in kindergarten readiness skills ... and math, demonstrating 15 months of gain in only nine months of participating.
“A majority of children identified as delayed at the start of the program exited the program at or above age level.”
For more information about North Montgomery’s Early Learning Academy programs, contact the administration office at 765-362-2112 or visit www.nm.k12.in.us. For regular updates from the district, follow North Montgomery Community Schools on social media.
