History and Background of Oak Park Preschool
The original Oak Park Preschool, Incorporated (OPP) was established in 1966 by the Eta Gamma Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. as a voluntary summer project. It is located at 3500 2nd Avenue, Sacramento California, 95817. This program is one of the very first California State Preschool Programs established under the direct tutelage of Dr. Wilson Riles, then the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and the first African American to hold that office.
Program Philosophy
Oak Park Preschool emphasizes the whole child through active learning situations. We strive for a balanced, nurturing, caring developmental approach to education for children who are two to five years old. The program provides freedom for children to have spontaneous play and interaction, where they are able to make discoveries, explore, solve problems, and develop social skills. In addition, structured, teacher-directed activities provide for individualized and small group learning. The curriculum supports children as they develop the school readiness skills, self-esteem, and the executive functioning skills that promote long term school success.
Qualified staff and small class sizes allow each child to develop according to his or her own pace, interest and learning style. We emphasize encouragement as a vital role in each child’s development.
Mission and Goals
The Oak Park Preschool, Inc. aims to maintain a preschool with a well-trained staff in which children can develop physically, emotionally, intellectually, and socially at their own pace in a secure setting. The program focuses on making each day a wholesome experience for each child, staff member and parent. The curriculum encourages and promotes total family education, involvement, and reinforcement by working with, helping and teaching parents numerous ways of assisting in their children’s educational development.