Looks like we are stepping back from state funding. The latest North Carolina budget does not include the ApSeed Pilot Program. Bummer, but we are not giving up!! We will regroup, revise and revisit Raleigh during the short session in early 2022. Our Seedling is a Touchpad with apps that “go to sleep” after twenty seconds in inactivity. Going forward, we’ll do a better job of selling that feature.
Speaking of going forward, check out the latest report from Jane Culp of Fort Mill Schools. She followed 80+ children in a Pre-K using the Seedlings’ model precisely. That best practice is to use the Seedlings in a classroom setting and then let the children carry the seedling home and work on specific development areas. Check out her summary below in this blog.
For our other Step Forward, we invited our Board of Directors and local Foundations and donors to visit our assembly process. Here’s a picture of the field trip to Rowan Vocational Opportunities (RVO). Managing the latest 2,500 cases, upgraded touchpads and cables is no small feat. Our group got a “behind the scenes” tour and loved getting a picture with the ApSeed/RVO A-team. Yes, the latest version is quicker to assemble and has faster re-charging time, too.
Two steps forward, one step back. We’ll take it. More private funding continues to help accelerate our mission and ultimately, we believe public funding will be achieved. That will be a giant step forward. In the meantime, we’ll keep helping children prepare for kindergarten – one step at a time.
Happy Holidays to all our advocates.
