ANNUAL REPORT

BBI’s education program promotes curiosity, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking by using the High/Scope curriculum. The “Plan/Do/Review method,” a cornerstone of High/Scope, allows children to plan their activity, act on decisions, and discuss what they accomplished with a teacher. This method allows each child to develop at his or her own level with the support of trusted adults.

We ensure ongoing evaluation of each child's growth and development using High/Scope's Child Observation Record (COR) Advantage assessment tool. Child assessment data is used to support curriculum development and to develop individualized instruction and wrap-around services to meet the unique needs of each child.

In FY23, all children advanced in each of the eight content areas defined by the industry-standard Child Observation Record (COR) Advantage: Approaches to Learning, Social and Emotional Development, Physical Development and Health, Language, Literacy and Communication, Mathematics, Creative Arts, Science and Technology, and Social Studies.

With Head Start carryover funding from FY22, when staff vacancy rates were high, BBI began a complete renovation of the outdoor space behind our building. Our goal is to make the space an outdoor area of respite, mental regeneration, and active learning for the teachers, students, and staff alike.

In spring 2023, our landscape architects, Moody Graham, presented three design concepts and collaborated with staff about the best approach. The final design includes a serpentine walk, teaching gardens that feature edible and native plant species, and peaceful spaces for staff to meditate, relax, and reflect. Construction began in fall of 2023 and the space will be fully functional by summer 2024.

Last year, in addition to 45-day screenings, there was a screening period in January for the ASQ, ASQ-SE and Brigance, allowing us to track progress and identify students who need additional services throughout the school year. We took significant steps to support children with social emotional needs, which have increased since COVID-19.

Our team identified a creative range of meaningful interventions. We constructed “cozy corners” in seven classrooms that contain social emotional visual tools such as feelings charts and conflict resolution cards. We enhanced our multipurpose indoor play room with several large items, such as a rock-climbing wall and foldable gym box, that add to the fine and gross motor play opportunities for students. The space has been transformed to be more engaging, meet the needs of over- or under-stimulated students, and challenge students’ physical development in enriching ways. We also constructed a sensory room—a quiet space for speech, occupational, and mental health consultants to meet with students and work on-site.

We know that time spent at BBI is just one meaningful period on a path of dynamic growth–and we’re committed to great outcomes for our community, even after they’ve left us. That’s why we launched an Alumni Support program to provide ongoing resources to our graduating Pre-K students and families as they transition into kindergarten and continue through K–12 schooling. With seed funding from the National Center for Families Learning, the program creates a network of support as children and parents continue their journey to academic excellence and social and emotional development throughout the K–12 years. In support of our two-generation approach, programming for parents is designed, with leadership from our Parent Policy Council, to train our parents to serve as leaders in their next school, advocate for their children’s needs and the needs of all children in the school, and continue to support each other in their parenting journeys. The Alumni Support program demonstrates our mission to support families even after children transition to kindergarten, and it will enable us to track child and family progress beyond the BBI program years.

The Teacher’s Assistant Internship program was designed to address the early childcare staffing shortage that was deeply felt across the nation, particularly at BBI and similar early childcare centers. Through our newly established partnership with Ballou STAY, we provided high school students from Ward 8 the opportunity to achieve required internship hours in pursuit of their CDA license. This partnership builds an employment pipeline for young people in our own community and in the BBI center. The pilot year was a major success, with six interns completing their internship hours at BBI. Three of them were offered full-time jobs with BBI as assistant teachers. We are thrilled about the success of this first year pilot program and the prospect of building a pipeline of fully vetted and experienced teachers at BBI from the Ward 8 community.

Persistent inflation and the high cost of living in the DC area have continued to hurt our families. In response, BBI launched our fresh farmers market program, thanks in part to new funding from the Sun Life Foundation. Building on our spring 2023 programming for National Nutrition Month, we held our first farmers market on June 13. Parents received healthy and delicious smoothie recipes along with locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables for ingredients. The market offered ripe mangoes, apples, dragon fruit, Brussels sprouts, peppers, broccoli, and more! The market was so successful and well-attended—by 58 BBI families—that we continued it through our current program year.

One of our keys to creating the greatest impact possible is building and leveraging meaningful partnerships. In our last program year, BBI nurtured and grew the many diverse partnerships needed to meet the complex needs of families experiencing housing instability. Our long-term partnerships delivered valuable services, including hearing, vision, and dental screenings; diaper and hygiene supplies; clothing and shoes; and doula and lactation support for pregnant mothers.

Our partnership with Guerilla Arts was reinvigorated in FY23, and it complements our initiative to offer more experiential learning for our children and their parents. During the program year, we welcomed 13 artist residencies for five sessions each in our classrooms, and offered two family workshops. Creative movement, drama, music, and dance lessons were incorporated into our High/Scope Curriculum. Professional development helped teachers develop strategies to deepen the children's understanding and appreciation of creative arts. The program was so well received that it is now being expanded and incorporated into the Evening Care program for the 2023/2024 program year.​