The Importance of Early Education
Ninety percent of brain development occurs in the first five years of a child’s life, making it a critical time to learn and grow. Multiple studies reveal that children who attend high-quality early childhood programs are less likely to be placed in special education, less likely to be retained in a grade, and more likely to graduate from high school than peers who do not attend such programs.
The Lynch Early Education Initiative
Peter and Carolyn Lynch have long believed that investments in early education could produce outsized returns, especially within Catholic schools.
In 2006, recognizing an opportunity to increase enrollment in Catholic Schools after facing a 20% decline over the course of five years, the Foundation began investing in early education by supporting four sophisticated schools to launch new programs and improve existing ones. During this time, the Massachusetts state legislature approved a voucher program to provide subsidies for low-income families to attend high-quality early education programs through the Early Education for All Act.
We partnered with Emmanuel College to educate school leaders on the voucher process, making Catholic schools a key player in the voucher marketplace. Looking to expand our work in Early Childhood Education and partner with additional schools, the Foundation hired three highly talented early education specialists who established a curriculum and provided professional development training for teachers. Building on the success of these investments, we launched The Lynch Foundation Early Education Initiative in 2011. This program has supported the launch and redesign of early childhood programs across the Archdiocese of Boston Catholic Schools.
5-Pillar Framework:
The program is built around five key pillars, all of which combine to support early childhood programs for optimal success:
- Coaching: Monthly in-person visits to individual classrooms.
- Materials upgrades: Purchase of high-quality curricula and developmentally appropriate instructional materials and furniture.
- Professional development: Summer institute, networking events, and facilitation of professional learning community for leaders across the initiative.
- Planning support for opening new classrooms and space redesign: Budget planning, space design consultation, and operational support training.
- Scholarships for teachers: An opportunity for the Early Education Initiative’s teachers and aides to receive Master’s degrees with a 2-year commitment to remain within the Lynch Foundation Early Education Initiative network of Catholic schools.
The initiative provides families access to affordable high-quality early education, increases both enrollment and revenue for the participating schools, and develops a talented and diverse group of early childhood educators across the Archdiocese of Boston.
Program Growth
- 23 school partners across the Archdiocese of Boston
- Over 100% annual growth each year in its first decade of operation
- 78% of the students in the early education program are retained into Kindergarten
- Over 120 classrooms supported by the program
- Annual cohorts of about 30 teachers earn Master’s Degrees at Cambridge College
- 4 early childhood specialists provide coaching and professional development to teachers
- Classrooms range from infant to K-1 and traditional school year to year-round