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Superintendent spotlights Mary Ford pre-K results as district plans universal pre-K expansion
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Summary
Superintendent Huggins highlighted early literacy and numeracy gains at Mary Ford Early Learning Center, cited a three-year analysis showing pre-k participation boosts readiness, and announced public tours and a July start for Peninsula universal pre-K scaling.
Superintendent Miss Huggins used the April 13 workshop to highlight the district’s early learning work, presenting formative assessment gains at Mary Ford Early Learning and Family Center and outlining plans to scale universal pre-K on the Peninsula.
Huggins said internal IGDI (Individual Growth and Development Indicators) data show improvements in picture naming, rhyming and other early-literacy tasks for pre-K students and noted gains in numeracy areas such as number naming and one-to-one correspondence. She cited a three-year analysis by Dr. Joanna Gilmore showing that pre-k3 participants “outperformed non pre-k peers on all 8 subtests in the most recent administration,” and called the results an intended justification for planned expansion.
The superintendent described Mary Ford’s wraparound model — family events, adult education, a fatherhood initiative and partnerships — and credited site leadership for early gains. Loretta Hart, principal at Mary Ford, said the program prioritizes community connections and family supports: “When students come to our school, they're actually learning. We are preparing them for their next level of academics,” Hart said. Kathy White, Mary Ford’s reading coach, and other staff detailed monthly events and father-engagement strategies used to boost attendance, family involvement and early literacy.
Huggins announced district tours of the Peninsula universal pre-K pilot on April 14, 22 and 29 and said staff are planning for a July 1 launch as officials consider scaling the model districtwide. She also tied early-learning outcomes to the FY27 budget discussion, saying early investment can improve kindergarten readiness and support longer-term student achievement.
Trustees praised the Mary Ford model and asked about expansion outside the Peninsula; staff said planning for North Charleston and other sites is underway as part of the district capital and routing process. The superintendent said the work will be monitored with standard assessments and that more outcome data will be available after spring testing.
