MAINSPRING SCHOOLS
This organization has already been registered
Someone in your organization has already registered and setup an account. would you like to join their team?Profile owner : b*************r@m***************s.o*g
Mission Statement
Mainspring Schools is on a mission to provide children and their families with a community for high-quality early education and holistic support.
About This Cause
Mainspring Schools prepares children ages six weeks to five years old for success in school and life through high-quality early education, nutrition, family services, and community building. Founded in 1941, Mainspring is Austin's oldest preschool and one of the top childcare programs in the state. Mainspring families come from all over Austin and represent different backgrounds, races and ethnicities, and socioeconomic experiences. At all times, at least 75% of families receive financial-need-based tuition subsidies. Three quarters of students come from backgrounds that include poverty, single- or no-parent households, refugee status, interactions with the foster care system, and trauma and/or neglect. Our vision: For every child, a foundation to thrive. HISTORY Mainspring was created as a "war nursery" under the Works Progress Administration, and throughout its 80+ year history, the school has focused on serving low-income families, single working parents (especially single mothers), and our neighbors who live at Meadowbrook Apartments, a HACA public housing site. Mainspring was the first school in the nation—of any kind—built in a federal housing development. Today, the school is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), a distinction held by only 8% of child care programs in the country. Mainspring also maintains a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar, the world's largest source of information on nonprofit organizations. APPROACH Mainspring's programming rests on three pillars: innovative learning, health & wellness, and keeping families at the center. We uphold these pillars through a strategic and time-tested approach: *Innovative Learning* Low child-to-teacher ratios (4:1 school-wide average); child-directed learning; a focus on instilling executive function skills; and art, dance, and music classes. *Health & Wellness* Locally-sourced, healthy breakfasts, lunches, and snacks prepared by an onsite chef and served family style; ample outdoor play on four playgrounds; Trust-Based Relational Interventions (TBRI®) to guide social-emotional development; research-based social skills curricula and wellness learning; and onsite counseling and therapeutic services. *Families at the Center* Educational seminars on topics like nutrition, reading with children, and helping children succeed; one-on-one support and individualized coaching; community-building among families through family supper and support groups; and lasting connections to peers. OUTCOMES & IMPACT Mainspring students and families enjoy impactful, high-quality care: · 90-95% of students who graduate from Mainspring each year enter kindergarten at or above school readiness levels—that’s twice the regional average for low-income kids. · The average teacher salary at Mainspring is $38,799—compared to $26,512 in all of Austin—and all staff receive 401(k) matching, paid time off, professional development, and meaningful support and appreciation. · Families stay connected through support groups and suppers, one-on-one coaching with an onsite social worker, and daily outreach from teachers and staff. · The school serves over 40,000 healthy breakfasts, lunches, and snacks each year, prepared by an onsite chef, and distributes food to parents & caretakers experiencing food insecurity to help with nutrition for the whole family. · Mainspring earned a 2022 Platinum Seal of Transparency from Guidestar, the world's largest database of independent nonprofit evaluations.