Teaching Tree Early Childhood Learning Center

In 2022, Teaching Tree continuted all efforts to focus on covid recovery. We kept all of our classrooms safe and open throughout the year. We served 433 children living in low- and middle-income families. Of this total, 37% lived in low-income families, 22% were of diverse backgrounds, and 16% lived in single parent families. We supported low-income families' efforts toward self-sufficiency by providing them with 242,075 in childcare scholarships and discounts. In addition to enabling parents to work, this assistance ensured that their disadvantaged young children were receiving quality care and participating in an evidence-based Early Learning program that built upon their strengths, helped them overcome adversity, and prepared them to succeed in school. In 2022, Teaching Tree also: o helped close the achievement gap by (1) providing full-day care and education for 24 children in the Colorado preschool program, and (2) graduating 84 students ready to enter kindergarten with the skills to succeed. O increased children's skills in all 6 developmental domains essential to school success. O addressed children's mental health/behavioral issues by receiving classroom support and guidance from Early Childhood council of larimer county mental health consultants. O served free and reduced lunch to 124 students. Provided children with 113,474 nutritious meals and snacks. To address the childcare worker crisis, we developed and received funding to implement a monthly incentive bonus program and provided additional paid days off each month for staff in order for them to take care of their mental health needs. Additionally, our board approved raising starting pay for teachers and aides and giving annual raises to existing staff.