Milwaukee Early Schooling Initiative, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee Early Schooling Initiative, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The Milwaukee Early Schooling Initiative (Project MESI) is a three-year funded project that links the Frances Starms Early Childhood Center with the Early Childhood Program at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. The Starms Center is a public school that serves approximately 400 children, ages 3 through 6, from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic groups.

Project MESI's vision is child-centered and focuses on how the school, the family, and the community affect the child. The project aims to promote learning experiences that develop the whole child and to extend support to families so that they in turn can support the child.

According to Gullo, Burton-Maxwell, and Bruk (1995), the goals of Project MESI are as follows:

"Design and implement an early childhood education approach that provides for integration of services, continuity of experiences, and collaboration among those who serve the needs of children and their families to benefit children ages birth to 6 years and their families.

Design and implement an approach to family-focused early childhood education within a public school setting that is appropriate for families with a wide range of characteristics.

Establish collaborative linkages between public schools and community programs providing child care and other services to young children and their families.

Enhance professional development opportunities for personnel within and across various early childhood settings." (pp. 12-13)

As part of its mission to provide networks of support for children and their families, Project MESI maintains an on-site family support and resource center for connection with families as well as a professional development center for collaboration with community groups. Gullo, Burton-Maxwell, and Bruk (1995) emphasize that Project MESI uses a collaborative approach for service integration:

"The MESI approach requires that there be a central vision to which all participating members of the community subscribe. The intent is to reduce the fragmentation in early childhood education and care services that are available for all children. Early education and care are thereby coordinated, resulting in continuity and stability for children and their families." (p. 17)

"The MESI approach is advocated and followed by diverse constituents within society. This means that individuals representing different interests of children and their families are working together to serve them. These individuals include, but are not limited to, educators, child care providers, community service workers, politicians, medical providers, and clergy." (p. 17)

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