loader image
EnglishHmongSpanish

Growing Strong Learners: Firebaugh-Las Deltas Unified School District

Firebaugh granteeFirebaugh-Las Deltas Unified School district is addressing JBMF’s key pillars on several fronts.  In order to build educator capacity, Firebaugh’s PreK teachers now take part in all relevant district trainings alongside K-12 teachers.  In addition, they have hired an English Learner Preschool Academic Coach to support teachers in language development lesson design, instructional strategies, and best practices for English Learners.  They are working to engage more parents by hiring a parent outreach liaison and providing classes on early literacy. Finally, they have teamed up with Abriendo Puertas, an organization that works to support parents as leaders in the lives of their children.

Their goals include

  • Incorporating Firebaugh’s PreK teachers in all relevant district trainings alongside K-12 teachers
  • Deploying English Learner Preschool Academic Coaches to support teachers in best practices for English Learners
  • Engaging a parent outreach liaison to reach parents
  • Partnering with community-based Abriendo Puertas to support parents as leaders in the lives of their children.

Snapshot of plans year 2-3: Firebaugh is exhibiting leadership in the early education space by creating a Professional Learning Community (PLC) among their preschool educators and other childcare providers in the community.  This partnership will help ensure all  children are ready for Kindergarten, no matter what program they attended.

Firebaugh grantee
Related

Initiative

Building Brilliant Futures for English Learners

Education

Initiative

The James B. McClatchy Foundation has awarded grants to school districts in the Central Valley since 2009 with the primary purpose of advancing the academic achievement of the Valley’s English Learners.  In 2017, JBMF (then the Central Valley Foundation) formed the English Learner Advisory Group in order to identify potential high impact grantmaking opportunities for English Learners in the Central Valley. One such opportunity was improving the quality of and increasing access to prekindergarten programs. As a result, the “Growing Strong Learners” initiative launched in 2018.   

The approach of the Growing Strong Learners initiative is asset-based, and prioritizes home language and culture, as well as English acquisition.  In this vein, JBMF supports school systems, programs, and partners as they leverage the strengths of the Valley’s diverse learners and their families. The initiative’s goal is that all Dual Language Learners in the Central Valley enter Kindergarten at the same level or beyond that of their native English-speaking peers and are supported by lasting structures that ensure they thrive throughout their educational journeys.

Learn More
Related

Insights

Join Our Newsletter

Join our newsletter to learn about English Learners and First Amendment. Grant proposals are by invite only. Please do not send letters of inquiry or proposals by mail or email unless requested to do so by Foundation staff.

If you need to reach us, have additional inquiries or would like to update your email preferences, please use the form below:

Phone: 916.979.9166

The James B. McClatchy Foundation (JBMF) accepts proposals only by invitation. Please do not send letters of inquiry or proposals by mail or email unless requested to do so by Foundation staff. 

 The James B. McClatchy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit philanthropic organization and is not affiliated with the McClatchy Company.

Facebook-f Twitter Linkedin

© 2022 James B. McClatchy Foundation. All rights reserved.

740 University Ave., Ste. 150, Sacramento CA 95825