SPARK Alliance Helps Young Learners Bounce Back Faster from Pandemic Setbacks

Alliance, Ohio – The pandemic brought a wave of challenges for families, especially for young children in their most formative years. But new data is showing a bright spot for local families: children enrolled in the SPARK Alliance program are making significant strides in recovering from the impacts of COVID-19 disruptions – and outpacing their peers in school readiness.

According to the latest Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) data, 73.2% of SPARK Alliance participants met the Language and Literacy cut-off score – a key indicator of future academic success. In contrast, only 41% of non-SPARK children reached the same benchmark. That’s a 32.2% difference, underscoring the powerful role SPARK plays in preparing children for school.

“These numbers are more than statistics – they represent real children who are now better equipped to succeed in the classroom,” said Liz Hibbs, executive director of the Early Childhood Education Alliance (ECEA), which offers the SPARK program locally.

SPARK, which stands for Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids, is a free, in-home kindergarten readiness program designed to help children and families thrive during the critical early years. Trained SPARK parent partners work closely with families to build early literacy, math, and social-emotional skills through fun, engaging, and developmentally appropriate activities.

“In a time when many children are still catching up, SPARK families are moving forward,” said Hibbs. “Every child deserves to enter school ready to learn, and SPARK is helping make that a reality.”

Families interested in enrolling in the SPARK program can contact the Early Childhood Education Alliance today at (330) 829-1234 ext. 1941 or email hibbsel@alliancecityschools.org.