Insights on Yoncalla Early Works

A guide to developing an early learning project in your community

When the partners behind Yoncalla Early Works launched the rural demonstration site in 2012, we thought we knew what success looked like. Our goal was to create a seamless system that holistically supports children in the critical period from prenatal through third grade (P3), while serving as a learning laboratory to inform both practice and policy in Oregon.

As partners from Yoncalla School District, Children’s Institute, Portland State University and The Ford Family Foundation reflect a dozen years later, the project has done so much more than that. It has served as the catalyst for a small, remote community to develop its own voice, and to advocate for policies that serve rural Oregon. It has shifted understanding of justice, recognizing that marginalization can affect all communities, regardless of race or ethnicity. And it has helped position Yoncalla as a statewide model for other rural school districts looking to integrate early learning programming into their school systems.

You can do all of that, too. We created this resource for communities seeking to make similar change in their own schools alongside their own families. By sharing the lessons we learned and the insights we gained, our hope is to help others seeking to improve systems and services for young children.

The success of the Yoncalla Early Works project demonstrates that rural communities hold the key to transforming systems of support for their youngest members. We hope this guidebook helps unlock that door for you.

This guidebook offers advice and distills lessons from over a decade of wisdom, including:

• The guiding principles partners to set goals, plan, make financial decisions and measure progress
• Lessons from community partners, the school district and The Ford Family Foundation as a funder
• What it takes to be a leader in P3 early education
• Additional resources for learning more

DOWNLOADABLE MATERIALS

» Full report: English (pdf)