Story and photos by Lyndsi Barboza
The Resurrection Project (TRP) is proud to announce the continuation and expansion of its education enrichment programming—Early-Childhood Education Transition (ECET)—into Pilsen’s Cooper Elementary School. Launching with one classroom consisting of 20 students, ECET focuses on providing quality full-day early-childhood education for children and families most in need.
Academic performance across Pilsen’s public elementary and middle schools show considerable variation. Mobility rates range from 9% at Orozco Community Academy to 18.5% at Pickard Elementary. At most Pilsen schools, fewer than 60% of students meet or exceed reading levels in grades 3 and 5.
TRP’s Early Childhood Education Transition programming is implemented in conjunction with the city of Chicago’s Head-Start program, and in partnership with Chicago Commons, a local organization. TRP and Chicago Commons have a collective goal of improving the quality and quantity of early-childhood development programs in Pilsen by reducing waiting lists, increasing availability of full-day early-childhood programs by adding or expanding programs in underutilized local schools, and developing awareness campaigns to emphasize the benefits of quality early-childhood programming for students and their families.
This program will mark the only full-day, early-childhood learning enrichment program in Pilsen schools. By the beginning of the next academic year, TRP and partners plan to implement at least two full-day programs into one or more Pilsen schools. TRP’s ECET program will follow Head-Start’s program focus using Chicago Common’s Reggio Approach to learning.
The Reggio Approach “is a complex, integrated approach [to learning that is] based on the relationships and interdependence of children, teachers, and parents.” (Chicago Commons, Adaptations of the Reggio Emilia Approach) Derived with an end-goal of quality early-childhood education, Chicago Commons praises this learning technique for its embodiment of all areas of learning and development through reflective thinking, negotiation, decision-making, and problem solving.
Parents, teachers, and community leaders—keep your eyes and ears open for Early-Childhood Education Enrichment programming coming to your child’s school soon!
** Implementation of additional TRP education enrichment transition programs (both early-childhood and high school) in the Pilsen area is contingent upon funding and forthcoming over the next academic school year.

Return to Nueva Vida March 2013 here!