School: CAIRO Academy
Grade: Preschool
The Change Idea
The team at the Center of African Immigrant and Refugee Organization (CAIRO) knew that African immigrant and refugee children between 3 and 4 years old were waitlisted for long periods to start preschool. The team identified that the system was not designed to accommodate the unique needs of bilingual, bicultural communities and their school-aged children.
The change idea was to open a culturally specific preschool to serve African immigrant and refugee children, focusing on rich experiences, academic learning, social-emotional learning, and community involvement.
Status of Change Idea : Adopted
What are culturally specific organizations?
Culturally specific organizations are entities that focus on serving specific cultural or ethnic communities, tailoring their programs, services, and support to meet the unique needs and values of those communities. These organizations often play a crucial role in providing culturally relevant educational experiences and support for children and families from diverse backgrounds.
Process
In 2016, CAIRO opened its first preschool at North Powellhurst. The team invited families to participate in the classroom, from reading a story to the kids to doing activities with them. The organization worked with the community and had local service providers—firefighters, police officers, first responders—and small businesses visit with the students to share how they help the community.
Predicted Outcomes
- To build an academic system that serves bilingual and bicultural students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, in which parents, teachers, and students are trusted to develop children’s educational advancements. A hallmark of this approach would be culturally responsive pedagogy, with engaged families, teachers, and students.
- To support understanding the importance of early childhood for the community and families.
- To provide equitable educational opportunities and lifetime experiences for 3 and 4-year-olds.
- To help parents and guardians become more engaged with their child’s schooling.
- To teach families that there is more than just academics involved in student success
- To provide rich experiences and support children’s social-emotional learning.
What actually happened?
Over the years, the community witnessed significant changes:
- Trust grew steadily among families, evident in the continued enrollment of children each year.
- Parents were increasingly engaged, volunteering regularly, visiting classrooms, and actively participating in their child’s educational journey.
- During conferences, parents and guardians openly discussed their children’s social-emotional and academic development goals.
- Teachers and parents collaborated closely, embodying a collective village approach to ensure the optimal educational experience for the students
Key Learnings
This approach works for the communities that CAIRO serves.
Guided Questions
Coming soon!