History
In the early 1970's, enrollment at Poe Elementary declined dramatically in response to the court-ordered integration of HISD schools. Poe parents approached then Superintendent George Garver with their concern about declining enrollment and loss of neighborhood children to private schools. He suggested a preschool program as a way of attracting community families to Poe.
The founding
parents worked to establish a preschool program that would be comparable in its
quality and scope with other preschools in the area. They were greatly aided by
the support of the Principal and Parent-Teacher Organization of Poe Elementary
School, the advice of the Beehive Parent-Child Center Project, and the
assistance of the
Poe-Co opened
its doors with a pilot program on
Enrollment at Poe Elementary began to increase almost immediately. On numerous occasions the next HISD Superintendent, Billy Reagan, credited Poe-Co with being the magnet that turned Poe Elementary from a school that was rapidly becoming very low in enrollment with very little parent participation into HISD's model for community development and integration.
By the 1976-1977 school year crowding at Poe Elementary necessitated that the kindergarten classes use the “temporary” building that had housed the preschool. Poe-Co parents raised $5,000 to supplement HISD's contribution of $15,000 to purchase the red building that housed the nursery school for the next nine years. During this period Poe-Co offered a class for 3 year olds. In 1977, Poe-Co began a summer camp program that has served many families who are not Poe-Co members, thereby familiarizing them with public school facilities.
Poe-Co has made
very significant contributions to the community and the school district over the
years. The great majority of Poe-Co children have gone on to Poe Elementary or
to other HISD schools such as the Vanguard program at River Oaks Elementary.
Parents who become involved with their children's education continue that
involvement after the children finish pre-school. Former Poe-Co parents now fill
many leadership roles in the PTO and parent volunteer programs at Poe
Elementary,
Poe-Co has provided scholarships, which have enabled many students to attend preschool whose families could not have afforded to give them that opportunity. Most of these have been non-English-speaking children who have been prepared to enter an English-speaking classroom after a year or two at Poe-Co. Poe-Co has been a model for high-quality preschool education at low cost.
In 1985, an exciting new era in the history of Poe-Co began. A new wing was added to Poe Elementary, the temporary buildings, including the red Poe-Co building, were removed from the campus, and two rooms in the north wing of the school building were converted to house the nursery school. Poe-Co is now able to offer both 3 year old and 4 year old classes in the morning. Optional extended day programs are also available. These changes have enabled Poe-Co to better meet the needs of its member families and have ensured the continued success of the nursery school.
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In 1990-91, Poe-Co underwent the strenuous program of accreditation by the N.A.E.Y.C. (National Association of the Education of Young Children). In April, 1991, Poe-Co became the first parent cooperative preschool to achieve N.A.E.Y.C. accreditation. Poe-Co was re-accredited by the NAEYC in 1994, 1997, 2000 and 2003. In 2003 Poe-Co achieved a 5-year accreditation. |
In November of 1992, Poe-Co was visited by Amy Driscoll, a leading early childhood education expert who highlighted Poe-Co in her book: Cases in Early Childhood Education, which was published in August 1994
During the Spring 2000, Poe-Co and Poe Elementary parents, grandparents and alumni raised over $25,000 to completely redevelop the playground. This new playground with additional climbing structures, biking paths and music and theatrical areas was inspired by the teachers and built by parents.
