For Schools

Partnering to Give Children a Strong Start

We work side by side with local superintendents, principals, early childhood educators, and community partners to connect young children and their families with quality early care, education, and support from birth through the early elementary years.

Superintendents' Early Childhood Plan

FAQ Overview Brochure

The Buffett Institute partners with the Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy Counties to provide leadership and support for the Superintendents’ Plan—a collaborative initiative of the 11 metro-area school districts to develop programming for young children and families facing persistent economic and social disparities. The focus of the plan is on closing opportunity gaps so that all children can reach their full potential.

Three Levels of Support

Selected Omaha-area elementary schools in neighborhoods impacted by poverty establish the school as a “hub” connecting young children and their families with services and resources.

School as Hub

Selected Omaha-area elementary schools in neighborhoods impacted by poverty establish the school as a “hub” connecting young children and their families with services and resources.

The Institute offers free learning opportunities that introduce evidence-based instructional practices to early childhood professionals in Douglas and Sarpy Counties.

Professional Development

The Institute offers free learning opportunities that introduce evidence-based instructional practices to early childhood professionals in Douglas and Sarpy Counties.

All districts in the Learning Community have access to consultation services to help each district build its capacity for providing quality programming to all young children.

Customized Assistance

All districts in the Learning Community have access to consultation services to help each district build its capacity for providing quality programming to all young children.

Evaluation and Outcomes

The Superintendents’ Plan is evaluated annually. The third-party evaluation is conducted by the Munroe-Meyer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and the Institute and school district partners use evaluation findings to refine and improve their collaborative efforts. The latest annual evaluation report is available here, and reports from previous years are available under Resources.

Read the 2023-24 Annual Report

Read the 2023-24 Evaluation Report

Since the plan was initiated in 2015, participating schools, educators, and families have reported progress in advancing birth–Grade 3 practices and closing opportunity gaps for young children. Outcomes include:

Increasing awareness, understanding, and commitment to implementing birth–Grade 3 programming among educators and staff in participating districts and schools.
Growing commitment and capacity of participating schools to engage families of young children in new and more inclusive ways.
Improvements in teacher-child interactions and instruction in PreK–Grade 3 classrooms.
Increasing connection with school personnel and reduced stress among participating families.

school districts in the Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy Counties collaborate with the Institute to implement the Superintendents' Early Childhood Plan

levels of support are provided to districts, schools, and educators

schools across six districts receive support to provide School as Hub programming