2019-20 will be remembered for COVID-19
Like organizations all across our community and country, Preschool Promise was profoundly tested in the 2019–20 school year. The COVID-19 pandemic demanded we respond, innovate and pivot, in recognition that children, families and early learning professionals were facing daunting challenges. While there have been heroes in many places, these educators and caregivers did not waver when children needed them! All of the progress and success that we share in this report occurred in the face of unprecedented times. We’re immensely proud of all that’s been accomplished, but we can’t emphasize enough that the achievements were only possible because of the critical work of our partners who work on the front lines with young children. We are in awe of them.
While there’s much to celebrate, we have to remember that when we get to the other side of this health crisis, so much of what we’ve lost will continue to disadvantage young learners. Children who haven’t been in Preschool or who haven’t learned as much because of missing school or moving to a virtual environment are likely to start Kindergarten more behind. The trauma they and their families have experienced — whether they’ve lost a loved one, gone hungry, been evicted, been laid off or suffered from physical or mental health issues — will be lasting. There are no vaccines for lost learning and the impact of trauma. Our commitment to getting all children fully ready for Kindergarten and minimizing the impact of Coronavirus and the racial inequities that have been brought to the fore this year has never been greater. We are grateful for your continued support for children.