Omaha-Area Districts Share Results from the Superintendents’ Early Childhood Plan

As part of the Superintendents’ Early Childhood Plan, 11 districts across the Omaha metro have united to strengthen early childhood education and build connections between schools and families.  

So how do we know it’s working?  

Over a daylong collaboration summit hosted by the Buffett Early Childhood Institute on June 16, school and district staff who are implementing the Superintendents’ Plan shared and showed the outcomes and impact of the initiative.  

“How do we know, through evidence, that systems are being impacted, that families are benefiting, and that children are benefiting?” said Amy Schmidtke, the Buffett Institute’s director of educational practice and the Superintendents’ Plan project lead. “When you're working today, you're going to be able to connect the dots between those strategies, the activities that different districts are doing, and the types of outcomes that they're seeing.”  

The Buffett Institute partners with the Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy Counties to offer leadership and support for the Superintendents' Plan, which provides early childhood services and programming for young children and families facing persistent economic and social challenges. The plan aims to close opportunity gaps so all children can reach their full potential. 

Children’s brains develop rapidly during their first few years of life, Schmidtke noted. Quality early childhood education gives them a strong start during that critical period.  

“Preparing students to take the ACT someday, be employable, go on to college or join a trade—all of that preparation is built upon what we’re talking about in this room,” she said.  

At the summit, schools and districts presented posters highlighting school data, ongoing initiatives, and points of pride. Examples included: 

• A 75% increase in the number of families participating in home visiting at Douglas County West Elementary in the Douglas County West Community Schools and the implementation of a family backpack program to support early reading 

• Demonstrated growth in early literacy from fall to winter assessments in Kindergarten and first grade at Westbrook Elementary in Westside Community Schools 

• A family facilitator at Conestoga Elementary in Omaha Public Schools who welcomed new families with a personalized tour, staff introductions, and a welcome bag with resources, a children’s book, and a family game  

• Monthly preschool readiness groups at Sandoz and Cody elementary schools in Millard Public Schools 

• The creation of an early childhood student handbook in Papillion La Vista Community Schools to support consistent early childhood practices 

Schools also worked on planning for the upcoming school year. 

Schmidtke said the Superintendents’ Plan—and its focus on connecting families and children to schools beginning at birth—remains a model for school districts nationwide.  

“I don't know anyone else in the nation who is doing it like we are, prioritizing the youngest learners in our communities,” she said. “This strong foundation that we’re building as part of this collaboration strengthens our entire Omaha community, because it builds strong children, strong families, and academic success.”