"Our children's success
in school and life depends on it.
So read, read, and read some more."
Program Purpose
In response to the needs of a diverse population of infants, toddlers
and young children, their parents, teachers and child care providers,
the Cambridge Early Learning Opportunities Act Program (ELOA) is
dedicated to providing integrated services and programs that promote and
encourage early learning and literacy.
Thanks
to a grant from the Child Care Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, several members of the 0-8 Council created the
program, Accelerating Early Language and Literacy for Children, Families
and Providers, a comprehensive approach to educating young children
and those who care for them. These early education specialists work
within the Cambridge Public Schools, the Department of Human Services,
the Public Health Department and related organizations. The grant has
increased collaboration throughout the early childhood community and has
led to the development of innovative activities throughout Cambridge.
To
address the school achievement gap for low-income, high-risk
populations, ELOA partners have been collaborating on new ways to affect
early education through refining and expanding quality learning and
literacy experiences for children in home-based and center-based
settings. These include curriculum development for children and adults,
college-level professional development courses, family support,
parent-child activities, adult basic education, multilingual home
visiting, child care education for pregnant and new mothers, and
community access to curriculum and technology.
"Because of English class I can understand many more things when my
daughter's teacher writes letters home. My children speak English very
fast. Now I understand them better. My daughter helps me with my
homework, and I can help her a little too!"
-Parent, Adult Basic Education class
Program Goals
- Enhance early education, childcare and family services
- Integrate services for children, families, and providers
- Serve high-risk, low-income children and families
- Support professional development
- Provide parenting education and activities
- Provide adult education
- Share materials and resources
- Promote collaboration between child care and education providers
- Track early educational interventions
The Cambridge ELOA Program is funded through a grant to the Cambridge
0-8 Council from the US Department of Health and Human Services Child
Care Bureau under the Early Learning Opportunities Act (ELOA).
The Cambridge Public Schools serves as the fiscal agent for the ELOA
Program, which began in September 2002 and will end in September 2004.