Mayor Menino has announced Boston’s Thrive in Five program. This is a fantastic step forward particularly given that Mr. Menino’s commitment is political rhetoric - he has backed it with a $3 million commitment and partnered with the United Way to make it happen. The program mission is simple and summarized as:
- Educate parents on the benefits of, and to become more discerning consumers of, early childhood education.
- Implement early intervention programs to prevent the development of an environment that could derail a child’s educational potential.
- Link and re-task all of Boston’s agencies and resources to insure that early childhood education is a top priority.
- Establish Boston as the premier city in terms of quality educational services for young children.
- Insure sustainability of Thrive in Five Boston by instituting success measures, report progress in context of those measures and have clear accountability for universal school readiness.
Read more about Thrive in Five Boston at www.thriveinfiveboston.org or read the executive summary here.
Why does Boston need to go this alone? What about our other communities that are in dire need of Thrive in Five? Worcester? New Bedford? Lowell? Springfield?
Governor Romney thwarted Universal Pre-K. Governor Patrick is taking clear steps to make up lost time and Mayor Menino has made a giant leap forward. Now is the time to give that extra push to keep the momentum going and drive Thrive in Five out to the broader community. The benefits are clear - $14 return on every $1 invested - so there is no need for a pilot. Jackie Jenkins-Scott and Sandra Fenwick made Thrive in Five Boston happen. This examplar of Massachusetts leadership must now turn their focus to “Thrive in Five Massachusetts”. Governor Patrick - now is your chance - ask Ms. Fenwick and Ms. Jenkins-Scott and the School Readiness Action Planning Team to get started now.
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