Bridge to School
Removing Roadblocks to Early Education
Book Harvest's Bridge to School program provides Pre-K/K transition services support to families in selecting high-quality Pre-K and kindergarten programs for their children.
What is Bridge to School?
Partnering with families once a child is eligible for Pre-K enrollment and extending through kindergarten, Bridge to School provides bilingual navigation through the often-complicated application and selection process and help to ensure that children are enrolled in programs best suited for each child and family.
Our full-time Pre-K/K Transition Coach meets parents where they are with individualized assistance in overcoming the barriers they face to Pre-K enrollment. Our Book Babies families receive home visits in their last year of our Book Babies program to assist with kindergarten enrollment.
This combination of supports increases the number of families that apply for and enroll their children in Pre-K programs and helps make the transition to kindergarten seamless and successful.
Why Bridge to School Matters
• Renowned studies -- Perry Preschool Project and Abcedarian Study -- confirm that high-quality early care and education have longterm and profound benefits for participating children. [1]
• Children from low-income families who attend high-quality preschool have better rates of academic achievement, high school graduation, and post-secondary success. [2]
• When parents and families have support during their child's transition to formal education settings, their child is more successful. [3]
How Bridge to School Works
Book Harvest's Bridge to School services help remove the roadblocks families often face as their children prepare to enter formal school settings. A literacy coach works individually with families (primarily families enrolled in Book Harvest's Book Babies program) over the course of two years through in-person and/or virtual visits.
The coach also organizes information sessions with local programs and schools, provides all-inclusive support with the application/enrollment process, and hosts family advocacy training sessions. In addition, Book Harvest's unique Ready for School Guide is a resource for families and childcare centers working with families.
