NORTH ROUTT PRESCHOOL

North Routt Preschool Program AccomplishmentsNRP's Toddler and Preschool programs provide all-day, year-round early childhood education to our communitys children, ages one to five years. Our teachers and staff currently provide early childhood education opportunities to over 35 families. Our daily attendance ranges from 12-19 students ages one to five years of age. Our student gender ratios are approximately 1:1. Parents can choose from full-day (7:30 am - 5 pm) or half-day (7:30 am -12:30 pm) Monday-Friday programs. Students have small group experiences with qualified teachers and teacher's assistants during all operating hours.As a nature-based Reggio Emilia-inspired school, teacher and assistants act as guides in the learning process, setting up provocations in the Indoor and Outdoor Learning Environments and working in small groups. To implement this type of learning and to provide care for children with varying abilities, including those with special needs, NRP strives to keep lower than required staff to student ratios. Although the state allows a ratio of 1:10 in Preschool classrooms, NRP strives to keep a 1:8 ratio. NRP generally keeps a ratio of 1:5 in the Toddler room.As a rural district, many students in Routt County are at risk of lower social-emotional development: three of our students have multiple risk factors, including living in substandard housing, having behavioral concerns, language development concerns and health issues of a family member. Most of the families served by NRP are two-income families with both parents living in the home. Due to the high cost of living in Routt County, many fall within the low to moderate income brackets and below the self-sufficiency standard as defined by the Colorado Department of Law and Policy. Over half of our families are enrolled in tuition-assistance programs offered through state and Routt County programs (e.g. United Way, Colorado Child Care Assistance Program).Using the Teaching Strategies Gold Assessment, we develop individualized developmental and learning goals for our students. Teachers employ the assessment tool in October to assess students development stage relative to age-determined standards, discuss the results with parents, and then work with parents to set appropriate and meaningful developmental goals for each child. Student progress in achieving these goals is again evaluated in April and discussed via parent-teacher conferences. NRP has had a positive record of cultivating student achievement of their learning and development goals via this assessment/review process.