NoVA Nonprofit Focuses On Making Kids Kindergarten Ready With Free Preschool

VIRGINIA — What difference does it make when only some kids get preschool experience before kindergarten? Consider the example of a teacher instructing kids to make dots of glue on their paper, says All Ages Read Together executive director Michelle Sullivan. While some kids know exactly how to go about the task, kids who haven't gotten that basic skill in preschool could get glue all over and start to doubt themselves.

"That that creates this feeling of I'm not sure what I'm doing. I don't feel comfortable here," Sullivan told Patch. "I don't necessarily like being here, and this is how we all feel about different things. If you feel like you're not quite ready to be wherever you are, you tend to shy away from it."

That's the kind of situation All Ages Read Together wants to help children avoid. All Ages Read Together is a nonprofit that provides free preschool programs for 4-year-olds and 5-year-olds in parts of Fairfax and Loudoun counties, including Alexandria addresses in Fairfax County. All Ages Read Together is one of the many nonprofits participating in Spring2Action, Alexandria's day of giving to support local causes on April 9.

Virginia does not offer universal early education, so All Ages Read Together targets families that are just above the income threshold to quality for Head Start program funding. Sullivan noted that these families cannot afford private preschool with an average cost of $11,000 to $14,000 per child. A 2021 report from the Community Foundation of Northern Virginia found the Northern Virginia region has one of the nation's highest gaps of preschool enrollment between children near or below the poverty level and other children.

"Most people don't know that, but it is because of the high cost of living here, combined with trying to make ends meet, and inflation and all of those things that everybody is conflating right now, but that is staggering to most people," said Sullivan. "That is the largest preschool income disparity for children, and we are so proud to be the only organization that's really serving that gap of families that that can't qualify for the publicly funded programs."

In Fairfax County, the nonprofit runs 16 locations in the Alexandria area of the county, Chantilly, Falls Church, Herndon and Lorton. Sullivan says the program could help residents from other localities like Alexandria City who request the service.

In Loudoun County, All Ages Read Together runs seven locations during the school year and six during the summer, including in Leesburg and Sterling. Sullivan says the summer program at school sites three days a week over five weeks allows children to experience the school where they will attend kindergarten.

"What's so wonderful is then they're getting this early experience to their school, the school that they're going to be in, in the fall," said Sullivan. "And so it's really comfortable for them, we're giving them a dose of education that they didn't have before in order to start kindergarten."

The nonprofit hosts its programs at locations close to where the families in need live — in libraries, community centers, affordable housing complexes and senior centers. School year programs run two hours per day for two days a week, which Sullivan estimates traditional preschool provides for skill building in between meals and snacks, nap time and other basic needs care. Class sizes are kept at 10 to give children individualized attention for skill building, but summer programs often get up to 15 due to extra support from volunteers.

The day starts off with circle time, where students share their name and updates in their lives. The class then breaks into groups to work on skills they need more support for, such as a number or letter learning, working with Playdoh, writing their name, mixing colors and other skills. Community volunteers such as retired teachers and psychologists often help out with the classes, working one-on-one with the children or reading them books. Teenagers often join the volunteering during the summer programs.

All of the class activities are based on a different book each week, from the music and movement segment to table time activities. Children will take home a book each week to keep in their own collection.

"Small children sometimes like to read the same books over and over and over again, and that is an opportunity to build confidence, too, in your early learning skills," said Sullivan. "Having your own books at home really is powerful. A lot of children, it's just not part of what they're able to have because their families are restrained, and if it means keeping the lights on, paying rent, having food and having you dressed and shoes and potential transportation, there may not be anything left."

All Ages Read Together's program will give students an assessment at the beginning and end of the school year to test skills they will need in kindergarten. Last year, the nonprofit found 87 percent of its students were kindergarten ready by the end of the school year. Without preschool experience, Sullivan says a student heading to kindergarten could be as much as 14 months behind. It could be even more difficult for students who speak English as a second language.

"Children that are going into kindergarten unprepared, it really affects the entire class," said Sullivan. "It affects the kindergarten teacher'ss ability to move through her curriculum the way she or he wants to."

At the end of the program, All Ages Read Together Celebrates the students with graduation events.

In light of federal workforce reductions, Sullivan says All Ages Read Together is getting inquiries from federal workers who lost jobs and want the program for their children. The nonprofit is discussing ways it can meet that need with its funders.

All Ages Read Together receives some local funding from Fairfax and Loudoun counties, but the bulk comes from private foundations, corporate contributions, family foundations and individual donors. The nonprofit will be one of the recipients donors can contribute to during the April 9 Spring2Action and is hoping to get enough donations to receive two match offers. It is also working to get a bonus prize for the most early bird donations through April 8.

The night before Spring2Action, the nonprofit is hosting an event at Revel Wine and Craft Beer Bar to showcase its program. Revel will also be giving All Ages Read Together a donation.

Fundraisers like Spring2Action are important for nonprofits like All Ages Read Together as it continues work to level the playing field for students.

"Education truly is the great equalizer in this country and in other countries, and I believe that strongly," said Sullivan. "You don't have to be the wealthiest person, but if you try hard in school and give it your all, you can be anything, and it and so it matters, and we try to create these competent little learners who are ready to soar."

Check out all of the Spring2Action details and get ready to support local causes at www.spring2action.org.