Good news arrived earlier this month all the way from Arkansas, where HIPPY USA is headquartered. The district’s HIPPY program, which stands for Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters, earned accreditation for meeting the national standard of quality and excellence. Now in its 19th year, the home-based literacy program has equipped thousands of Irving preschoolers and their parents with tools to transition into school.
The process of receiving accreditation involves an extensive evaluation across several domains such as curriculum, professional development, parent involvement, fiscal management and human capital. Impressively, Irving ISD is one of two HIPPY sites in Texas to receive accreditation this year.
The program is celebrated as the third largest site in the state, even surpassing neighboring districts in Dallas and Richardson. Last year alone, Irving ISD served 352 families, and the numbers continue to rise. The program has seen a dramatic increase, climbing 30 percent in the number of families served and number of home instructors in just five years. By the end of 2019, the district’s state/federal programs and compliance department is anticipating the program to double in size.
These strides are no small feat and have caught the eye of those in the early childhood field. For its growth and effectiveness, the district will present at the upcoming HIPPY International Conference in April 2020 as a model for success.
