In 2010 only 43 percent of local preschool-aged children entered kindergarten ready to learn to read. While that number may be up from 35 percent in 2001, Madison County CAPE Initiative officials say drastic improvement is still needed.
“Early-childhood education is a real issue in our community,” said Mary Lee Ewald, director of CAPE — the Community Alliance to Promote Education. Ewald said students are already behind the pace needed to eventually graduate if they wait until kindergarten or first grade to start learning.
“There is significant research that shows high school graduation rates can be significantly linked to third-grade reading scores,” she said. “And early-learning opportunities are necessary. The critical age for brain and language development is birth to 18 months. You can’t look at the graduation rate and say it all starts when these students enter kindergarten or first grade. They have to be prepared before that with experiences with their families.”
CAPE reaches out to the community by partnering with other organizations in several ways, including the hospitals’ prenatal education programming; a partnership with the public library that provides books to families of newborns; opportunities for families to get books by hosting “book parties”; and the Born Learning Connection — five interactive trails in Madison County parks that encourage family learning through activities.
“I’m not surprised that the graduation rate is that low,” Ewald said of Anderson schools’ statistics. “We started CAPE 10 years ago, and at that point only 45 percent were proficient readers at the end of third grade. Now we have gone up to 75 percent countywide. Hopefully, we will start to see those effects down the road.”
Contact Abbey Doyle, 640-4805, abbey.doyle@heraldbulletin.com
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Kindergarten teacher Diana Stanley teaches children about reading in her classroom at Valley Grove Elementary School in April. The school conducted Kindergarten Blast Off, a program to help teach kids what to expect in kindergarten. Aaron Piper
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Madison County lagging but taking steps to improve
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Academic Accolades: May 27
A compilation of academic news as published in the Sunday edition of The Herald Bulletin.
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Well-behaved students rewarded with carnival
A “Can you survive the yuck?” game was one of many offered at the Student Appreciation Program held inside and on the outdoor grounds of AHS on Friday.
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Indiana Christian Academy students look ahead to summer
Tantalizing Florida vacations filled with sun, sand, sea and Disney shimmered like diamonds strewn across a distant shore for several kids awaiting pickup on the last day of classes at Indiana Christian Academy Thursday.
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AHS rewarding well-behaved students
Anderson High School is holding its Student Appreciation Program (SAP) Friday for students who meet or surpass several requirements.
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AHS will hold student appreciation day
Anderson High School is holding its Student Appreciation Program Friday for students who meet or surpass several requirements.
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Anderson High School choir to sing with Foreigner
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Haffner becomes 44th winner of Red Haven Award
Pendleton Heights now has both the old and the new Red Haven Award trophy for its case at school.
When PH’s Ellie McCardwell won the award in 2010, the long-standing trophy was retired, and because the Arabians had the last winner, the school was able to permanently house that hardware.
On Tuesday, when the Anderson Noon Exchange Club presented the 2012 winner, it went to Pendleton Heights’ Abbie Haffner. So for the next 12 months, PH will be home to both the new traveling trophy, first presented a year ago to Lapel’s Leigh Steele, and the old one. -
Anderson Learning Academy withdraws charter application
When Anderson Learning Academy’s board first started seeking charter status, it was to help make changes in education as graduation rates and ISTEP scores were low in the public school system.
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Haffner, McFerran get Dickmann Awards
Alexandria-Monroe High School senior Michael McFerran and Pendleton Heights senior Abbie Haffner received the annual Dickmann Youth Community Service Awards on Tuesday during the Anderson Rotary Club’s weekly luncheon at Anderson Country Club.
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Historic Preservation Commission turns down school board
Arguments were made over historical significance, sentimental value, structural stability, safety and finances during a Historic Preservation Commission meeting Monday evening discussing whether to grant South Madison Community Schools board’s proposal to demolish the former middle school at 301 S. East St.
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Academic Accolades: May 27
