Early Childhood Teacher Ms. Charlemange, center, and classroom aide work with students enrolled in Pearl B. Larsen's Granny Preschool Bridge Pilot Program during the 2018-19 school year, the first year the program was implemented in the St. Croix District. The students are now enrolled in Kindergarten.
The data is in and it shows that the Virgin Islands Department of Education’s (VIDE) first steps toward providing preschool services at its public schools has been successful with the implementation of the Granny Preschool Bridge Pilot Program in the St. Croix District during the 2018-2019 school year. The program was responsible for equipping 14 preschoolers now enrolled in Kindergarten with critical skills needed to succeed in their new grade.
Data was collected from trackers such as i-Ready, LAP-3 and Waterford—the Granny Preschool online instructional tool, which is a research-based, integrated, early-learning curriculum delivered through personalized learning software and teacher resources. Instructional practices required students to complete web-based adaptive prescriptions for 15 minutes each day. The teacher then used the information to support students through a personalized learning approach.
Jeselle Cruse-Peter, center, oversees Granny Preschool in the St. Croix District. She is seen here with Jose Perez and Assistant Principal Sharon Charles at the Claude O. Markoe Elementary School Granny Preschool site during the 2018-19 school year.
According to Jeselle Cruse-Peter, St. Croix District Elementary Programs Coordinator who oversees Granny Preschool, the students’ progress was also compiled in a data portfolio that included letter and number formation, name writing, and a hand-drawn self-portrait.
“This portfolio was used as a discussion piece as students shared their data with their parents and parents asked them questions,” she explained. “The teacher served as the facilitator and reiterated information while presenting additional data to justify what students stated about their progress.”
Cruse-Peter further pointed out that the information contained in the students’ portfolio indicated a compilation of proficiency levels at the two Granny Preschool sites—the former Pearl B. Larsen Elementary (now Pearl B. Larsen PreK-8 School) and Claude O. Markoe Elementary School. Students’ handwriting and letter/number formation showed significant visible improvement from as early as the September 2018 start of the program through just before the December 2018 holiday break.
At the close of the program in June 2019, “all students tested early on grade level and above, which meant that all students were ready and mastered the skills to enter Kindergarten this school year and be successful, as evident by i-Ready,” Cruse-Peter said.
“Students’ growth throughout the program supports why preschoolers must be exposed to Kindergarten skills prior to Kindergarten entry,” she said. “Data supports how the instruction provided prepared students with Kindergarten readiness skills needed to be successful in Kindergarten.” Mrs. Ottley – Herman, District Director of the Division of Curriculum and Instruction and one of the program leads, supports the program and will utilize the data that will be collected over a 2 year period for next steps and program expansion.
For the 2019-2020 school year, the Granny Preschool Program has expanded to 15 students at the Claude O. Markoe Elementary School site and 20 students at the Pearl B. Larsen PreK-8 School site.