Triple P — a highly effective parenting program — provides free classes to Tempe residents facilitated by accredited practitioners. Classes help parents develop the skills needed to raise confident, healthy children and teenagers, and to build stronger family relationships. The program also helps parents prevent and manage misbehavior. Parents may customize the program to meet their needs by choosing from options such as one-time discussion groups, short series seminars, in-depth group courses, and individual sessions.
Early Grade Success
Tempe AARP Experience Corps
This program focuses on early literacy skills and provides support to struggling students in partnership with the Tempe Elementary School District. Students in kindergarten through third grade who have tested below benchmark standards in reading for their grade level receive one-on-one tutoring from highly-trained, older adult volunteers twice a week during the school year. Tempe Experience Corps volunteers have helped more than 3,000 at-risk students reach grade-level reading benchmarks since the city’s program was established in 2006.
Mesa K-Ready
This City-initiated, community collaborative, led by Mesa Public Schools, provides early learning opportunities for three- and four-year-old children and their parents. Funded through public and private contributions, the program serves about 200 participants each week. The goal is to increase the percentage of Mesa’s preschoolers engaged in quality early learning from 36 percent to the national average of 48 percent. Focused on cognitive development, social-emotional learning, and strong families, the program ensures seamless access to existing resources, enrichment activities, and fun activities at museums, parks, and libraries.
Tempe PRE
In 2017 the Tempe City Council allocated $6 million for 20 preschool classrooms now located in 12 elementary schools and serving approximately 360 children. This high-quality, tuition-based, full-day preschool program is open to families living or working in Tempe and neighboring cities. The program is five days a week with schedules corresponding to those of the individual elementary schools. Benefits include small class sizes, a play-based curriculum, and certified teachers. Financial assistance — including full tuition, half-tuition, and free tuition — is available to qualified families.
Marana Cares Mobile
The Marana Cares Mobile navigates the streets of the community, offering nutritious meals, Chromebooks, and literacy activities to students during school breaks and the summer months so that students are better prepared to return to school ready to learn.
Building Blocks to Great Schools
The City of Goodyear established this annual summit in 2009, convening a diverse cross-section of the community — from educators and school leaders to community partners and representatives from city departments — to discuss ideas and opportunities, and provide updates on programs and activities that impact, or have the potential to positively impact, youth. Since its inception, the program has increased the number of School Resource Officers and strengthened communications and relationships between key City departments and District leadership.
