A Bright Beginning
(ABB)
A Bright Beginning is an early literacy program available to support eligible preschool-age migratory children in either a center- or home-based setting. This Title I, Part C-funded program is specifically designed for migratory children ages 3-5 who are not enrolled in Head Start, Pre-K, or Kindergarten.
A trained ABB educator will offer weekly lessons either in a group setting at a center designated by the district (Center-based Program) or individually in the child’s home (Home-based Program). The home-based program is designed to develop the skills of the parent to support the early literacy needs of the child, since the parent is the child’s first teacher.
Lessons may be offered during the summer months as well as during the school year.
Early Childhood ESSA Grant Program Requirements
A Bright Beginning Basics
How to Get Started with ABB
Independent Project District staff who wish to offer ABB in their district should contact their ESC MEP contact for information about how to receive and/or provide training for instructors in their area.
SSA Member District MEP staff should review the regional contract to determine whether the ABB program services will be provided by District or ESC MEP staff.
ABB Home-based Program
When a migratory child is identified in the district and not attending Pre-K or Head Start, an ABB home educator or MEP staff member will schedule an appointment with the parents to explain the program; encourage them to allow their child’s participation; and if the parents accept, enroll the child in the ABB home-based program.
The ABB home educator will schedule a day and time convenient for the parent every week to work with both the child AND the parent on the ABB curriculum lessons.
The child will be assessed at the beginning of the program and at the end of the year to monitor progress.
Lessons may be offered during the summer months as well as during the school year.
ABB Center-based Program
When a migratory child is identified in the district and not attending Pre-K or Head Start, an ABB home educator or MEP staff member will schedule an appointment to speak to migratory parents about the center-based program; encourage them to allow their child’s participation; and if the parents accept, enroll the child in the ABB center-based program.
The child will participate in a group setting with other children at a specified time during the week in a location designated by the district.
The child will be assessed at the beginning of the program and at the end of the year to monitor progress.
ABB Parent Meetings
Monthly ABB meetings may be provided for parents of children served by the program to encourage them to be more involved with the academics of the program, to build relationships with other parents, experience meetings in a non-threatening environment, and to supplement the ABB activities. Meetings are held at the school which is beneficial as both the parents and child connect fun in learning with the school.
It is also important to consider inviting community stakeholders to attend and present information at these meetings to help inform parents of other services and agencies in the community that offer additional assistance to their children and families.
A monthly calendar could be created and delivered to each ABB family. This ABB calendar provides a method to communicate with ABB parents and the school by ensuring that ABB parents are aware of both ABB activities and school events.
Download Sample Steps for Organizing an ABB Parent Meeting
(provided by Hereford ISD)
ABB Resources on TMEP Portal
On the TMEP portal, MEP Staff section, there is an A Bright Beginning button which takes you to a resource page.
This page serves as an access point for the ABB Training Modules for Instructors as well as for the ABB portal.
There is an access code needed to view the online course modules. The ESC ABB point of contact will be able to share that with instructors as needed.
There is a DIFFERENT access code needed to create a new account on the ABB web portal. That code is shared during the Portal Tour training module.
Also on this TMEP ABB resource page, you will find informational materials that can be shared directly with parents. There are one-page flyers and overview videos for center- and home-based programs available in English and Spanish.
Access to the TMEP ABB resource page is provided below.
ABB Resources and Links
ABB portal for instructors (access code or login needed)
ABB training modules for instructors (access code needed)
Additional Info for ESCs
ESC Responsibilities
ESC ESSA Basic Services Grant Requirements for Project Districts
The ESC ESSA Basic Services Initiative Grant includes the following specific early childhood requirements with Project Districts (Independent OR SSA Member):
Ensure all preschool eligible migratory children have access to preschool services by
- Communicating with all MEP-funded and non-MEP funded school systems, and parents to determine accessibility to preschool readiness for all eligible preschool migratory children;
- Designating a point of contact for ‘A Bright Beginning’ (ABB) at the ESC
- Ensuring representation by ESC MEP staff at ABB TOT provided by MEP Capacity Building & Curriculum Initiative
- Designating ‘A Bright Beginning’ trainer, if needed;
- Providing training and technical assistance to ABB Educators;
- Coordinating and collaborating with available agencies and local resources to identify services for 3-5 years old; and
- Highly recommend but not required to compile a list of state, local, and regional resources available and share with school systems, as appropriate.
ESC ESSA Basic Services Grant Requirements for Non-Project Districts
The ESC ESSA Basic Services Initiative Grant includes the following specific early childhood requirements with Non-project districts:
- Identify and recruit all eligible migratory children, including preschool children and OSY, in all non-project districts in the region
- If non-project eligible migratory children/youth have unmet needs, the ESC can provide direct services* to meet those needs;
- Ensure all eligible preschool migratory children have access to preschool services by communicating with non-project districts and parents to determine accessibility to preschool readiness for all preschool migratory children
*Direct instructional services:
- Includes activities such as tutoring in core content areas, statewide student assessment tutorials, reading instruction by a teacher, math instruction by a teacher, Project SMART, A Bright Beginning (ABB), Early Literacy Migrant Program, etc.
Training Requirements
New ESC MEP staff must attend a Training of Trainers (TOT) as required by TEA to receive updated training materials and access to the A Bright Beginning portal and all instructional and training resources. Returning ESC MEP staff may review any of the online training resources and attend virtual office hours, if needed. These training opportunities are offered at the beginning of the school year, typically in September.
If the A Bright Beginning program will be offered in a region, the ESC ABB contact who attended or completed the TOT is required to provide training for the instructors who will deliver ABB instruction in that region.
