Several pre-K programs in Avoyelles Parish rated ‘proficient’

Early childhood education in the first four years of a child’s development has been shown to have a significant impact on IQ and academic achievement, as well as reducing incidences of childhood obesity and chronic illness. For that reason, more attention has been given to those programs.

The Louisiana Department of Education evaluated 21 early childhood education centers in Avoyelles.

Fourteen provided pre-school services for 3- and 4-year-olds, six had only pre-K programs for 4-year-olds and one had only classes for ages 2 and 3. Some centers had 50-60 students that were publicly funded. Others had 10 or fewer publicly funded students.

The state “grades” are similar to the “school performance scores” for public schools in grades K-12.

Private, in-home childcare providers and parochial schools’ pre-K programs are not evaluated by the state.

The highest overall scores were in the Avoyelles Parish School District’s pre-K programs for 4-year-olds.

Marksville Elementary had the highest score with a 5.44 and rating of proficient. Plaucheville Elementary was second with a score of 5.31 and Lafargue Elementary was third with a 5.22 score.

All three of those have publicly funded enrollments of 50-60 children.

Cottonport Elementary had a 4.87 score and Bunkie Elementary received a 4.69 mark. Both were rated “proficient.” Riverside Elementary had a 4.19 for an “approaching proficient” rating.

Cribs to Crayons in Cottonport has classes for 2- and 3-year-olds, but no pre-K class for 4-year-olds. It received a 5.07 score and “proficient” rating.

APSD Elementary Supervisor Celeste Voinche said pre-K education is “vital to many of our students. Children of poverty come to us with a lack of exposure to many aspects of education and having them in a quality education program helps to make up those gaps.”

Voinche said the district is fortunate to have all of its pre-K teachers certified and highly qualified “and that is why our results are so good in our schools.”
‘Full-Service’ centers

In the 14 “full-service” centers, Early Childhood Development Center of Avoyelles (ECDC) in Mansura was the top-rated center with a score of 4.87 to receive a rating of proficient.

The next highest score was Toddle Town in Hessmer with a 4.53, also rated proficient.

The other 12 providers in the parish were rated as “approaching proficient” with scores of 3.36 to 4.48.

Those include the eight Head Start centers, 1-2-Buckle-My-Shoe, Bayou Chateau Childhood Development Center, Nay’s Childcare & Pre-School and Little Shining Stars 2.

The state uses a measuring system called CLASS which uses research-driven evaluations to improve teacher-student interaction and cultivates supportive, structured and engaged classroom experiences. Yop tier educators travel the state and conduct surprise evaluations throughout the year.

The categories evaluated are emotional support, classroom organization, instructional support, class size and best curriculum.

Emotional support measures the center’s success in providing a positive climate, teacher sensitivity and regard for students’ perspective.

Classroom organization reflects teachers’ success in positive behavior management, productivity and instructional learning formats.

Maintaining small class sizes will also earn points on the evaluation, as does the administration’s support -- financially and physically -- of the classroom efforts.

The curriculum used is also evaluated for its success in preparing the young children for school.