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Solanco SD presents Title I early-learning push, cites screening trends and expanded family events
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Summary
District officials outlined a Title I early-learning strategy aimed at connecting children age birth–5 to resources, highlighted screening data showing a decline in incoming kindergartners needing extended services since 2021–22, and described events and partnerships to boost family engagement.
Britney Brewer, director of the district’s Title I early-learning program, told the school board April 13 that the program’s primary goal is to “connect our Solanco early learners with the district from age birth to 5” and to get families resources and literacy supports before kindergarten.
The presentation, led by Brewer and early-learning advocate Jessica McCullough, summarized five years of kindergarten screening data and described regular family-facing events: book clubs and STEM nights, a Mini Mules Academy preview for incoming kindergarteners, evening family events with meals, and pop-up playgroups. Brewer said the district’s screening history shows about 50% of incoming kindergartners qualified for extended-kindergarten services in 2021–22, which fell to 42% last year; current screening in March projects the figure will be in the upper 40s for the coming year.
Brewer and McCullough emphasized that screening measures focus on letter identification, sound fluency, early writing and number sense. The program also connects families to community partners: Lancaster County Community Action Partnership, IU13 early-intervention services and Penn Medicine LGH Safe Kids. Brewer noted the program distributes a small stock of car seats to qualifying low-income families and that several events are funded through Title I dollars with supplemental grants (STEM Alliance, PNC, and a recent SCF grant).
The presentation described efforts to reduce equity gaps by increasing early access and offering flexible programming, including mobile or pop-up offerings in outlying areas and mobile-home communities. McCullough said the Mini Mules Academy currently serves 44 incoming kindergartners across four sessions, with additional high-school-run sessions that give student teachers hands-on experience.
Board members praised the work and asked about preschool data and staff capacity. Brewer and McCullough said the district plans to deepen partnerships with preschool providers to better understand the quantity and quality of children’s prior early-childhood experiences. They also noted funding from Title I is declining in some years and the program relies on grant funding to sustain some activities.
The board did not take formal action on the presentation; district leaders said they would continue outreach and report back on enrollment and screening trends.
