Focus is Quality Education for Kids, Families

What does Opportunity Early Childhood Education and Family Center do?

Opportunity Early Childhood Education and Family Center offers specifically designed programs that embrace the whole child. We focus not only on academics, but also the social, emotional and physical well-being of our students.

Our curriculum addresses the need for high-quality education to prepare children for kindergarten and lifelong learning. Opportunity currently serves 96 preschool children, ages six weeks to five years. The majority of children at Opportunity come from low-income, single-parent households. Our programs are specifically designed to prepare our students to begin kindergarten on the same level as their higher-income peers.

How does your agency benefit the community?

Quality early childhood education for low-income children has been proven to increase vocabulary and literacy, reduce dropout rates, have a positive influence on family relationships, decrease incarceration rates, and increase graduation and employment rates. Opportunity gives students a solid educational foundation to build upon, which will improve the future of our whole community.

What is your agency’s focus for 2017?

In 2017, Opportunity is focused on serving more under-resourced children and their families in our community. We are in the process of constructing a new campus which will allow us to serve up to 285 children. The groundbreaking for the new 22,000-square-foot facility is Jan. 19.

How can the community help?

We encourage the community to invest in our children. We invite you to tour Opportunity to learn more about our programs, volunteer, support a fundraiser or join our capital campaign.

MISSION STATEMENT

Empowering the children of working families to achieve academic and life success through educational programs that embrace the whole child and through family programming.

KEY PROGRAMS

Academics & Literacy: Learning activities at Opportunity combine child initiated exploration with curricular support that include all areas of development: cognitive, physical, motor and social.

Field Trips: Opportunity field trips include locations that cultivate learning and offer new experiences to our children including, libraries, museums and amusement parks.

Fine Arts: We encourage our students to satisfy their sensory curiosity and discover their talents to help build the foundation for all areas of learning.

Developmental Screenings: Each child is screened to help identify potential health or developmental issues or advanced challenges and to assess whether health, education or diagnostic intervention is required.

Music & Rhythm: Music has a positive influence on children’s cognitive skills and creates a rich and stimulating environment for the senses.

STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics: Our students have the opportunity to inquire, explore and experiment; with key factors in developing critical thinking skills.

Family Services: Opportunity collaborates with community partners to offer support services to families to promote employment and financial stability, parenting skills and counseling services.

Family Development: Opportunity provides workshops and training for parents focusing on the needs of low income, working families (personal finance, navigating the education system, emotional wellness, nutrition, etc.).