Parents as Teachers
Sunnyside Parents As Teachers (PAT) is an evidence-based early childhood family education and support program serving families throughout pregnancy until their child enters kindergarten, with demonstrated positive outcomes for children, families and communities. The teachers are the parents, supported by professional educators who suggest ways they can effectively teach and nurture their young children. This cost-effective program is based on two simple truths-babies are born learning and that parents are their child’s first and most influential teachers. Certified parent educators with a strong background in early childhood development use a research-based curriculum to provide age appropriate information to parents and help them lay a strong foundation for school and life success.
The goals of the program are: 1) to promote school readiness and improve academic achievement 2) to increase parent knowledge of child development and appropriate ways to stimulate their child’s intellectual, language, social, motor development and literacy skills and promote the importance of reading to children from birth 3) to enhance parent-child interaction and strengthen family relationships 4) to detect developmental problems early in order to prevent reading and learning difficulties once the child enters school 5) to develop a strong partnership between parents and schools.
PAT has served approximately 4000 families and over 4500 children in the district area. Currently the Sunnyside PAT program serves 287 families and 373 children who include 91% low income, 71% parents have not graduated from high school, 261 Hispanic, 6 Anglo, 5 Native American, 15 multi-racial, 31 teen parents, 210 parents needing materials in Spanish.
In 2008-09 PAT demonstrated a reduction in special education placement leading to a cost savings of $249,886 for 14 children who avoided this classification Fifty-four of 56 PAT graduates entered kindergarten with excelling readiness skills. Aims reading, writing and math results for PAT graduates were 20% higher than district average.
Carla Ascencio, a teen mom says “without the program, I probably wouldn’t interact with them because I wouldn’t think it was important. My kids would probably be sitting in front of the TV all the time.” She also said that reading to her kids helped her become a better reader.
Karla Scott, whose children were in the program said, “The parents As Teachers program assisted my family in engaging my children in activities that prepared them for school. The home visits and Stay and Plays raised my awareness of academic and developmental standards and provided ways to propel them to not only reach, but surpass, many of the state standards”.
