The Early Learning Center’s Best Practices
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Early Learning Center's Best Practices
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Boston Statistical Portrait 2000
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Appointed for UMass Online
By Kelly Meehan
A year of concerted effort at the Early Learning Center culminated in May 2000 when the Center received accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children. This achievement makes it possible for the Center to qualify for a range of grants and resource opportunities, and ranks it among the top 10 percent of quality programs across the country. Undergoing the accreditation process led to improved practices throughout the Center. Some of the most notable advances were made in curriculum, health and safety, classroom environment, staff development, and parent engagement.
Last November, the staff was among the 50,000 early education teachers from around the country who attended the Annual Conference of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in Atlanta. The NAEYC conference marked the beginning of a more structured professional development program for the Center staff. Staffing patterns have been reorganized and the members have benefitted from access to workshops and classes in the early childhood community. Center staff members also have presented workshops at a local conference and assisted in the accreditation process. All these activities help to broaden and deepen the knowledge of an already experienced and committed staff.
The parents associated with the Early Learning Center represent diverse socioeconomic, ethnic, cultural, racial, linguistic, and religious backgrounds. A recent event revealed that families have ties with countries all over the world, and speak many languages - from the more prevalent Spanish, French, and Chinese, to different versions of Creole and Mendi, the little known language of Sierra Leone. The staff members draw from this diversity and breadth of experience by involving parents as much as possible in the life of the Center.
The Parent Advisory Board is composed of ten elected members who act as a support group for parents at the Center and as an additional link between parents and staff. These parents, and others who wish to attend, meet monthly to discuss issues and organize fund-raising, educational, and social events. Together with Center Director Kelly Meehan and the Center’s family advocate, the Board has been instrumental in the creation of parent education workshops. The Center will also host a Nurturing Father’s Program conducted by the Family Nurturing Center and a home buyer’s course sponsored by the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Association.
The Center hopes to establish closer connections with the academic programs at the University. The recent formation of the Early Childhood Steering Committee, chaired by Dean Clara Jennings of the Graduate College of Education, will examine ways to better utilize the teaching, research, and service capacity of the faculty, staff, and students at UMass Boston. This will place the Center at the forefront of best practices in early care and education.
Interested visitors are always welcome at the Early Learning Center, which is located just a short walk from the campus at 2 Harbor Point Boulevard. The Center provides quality child-care from 7.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. for children ages 15 months to 5 years whose parents are students, staff, or faculty at UMass Boston or residents of the Harbor Point community. For more information, please contact Meehan at (617) 287-6195 or kelly.meehan@umb.edu.