Sandwich, MA — The Collaborative for Educational Services (CES) is proud to continue its partnership with Sandwich Public Schools (SPS) through the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI), a statewide grant program funded by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).
Through CPPI, EEC provides funding to districts across Massachusetts to develop partnerships between school districts and local early education and care programs, expanding access to high-quality preschool within high-need communities. The initiative supports both planning and implementation grants, with 30 districts currently participating in CPPI-funded classrooms — including Sandwich Public Schools.
The CPPI grant program is designed to ensure that 3- and 4-year-olds have equitable access to high-quality preschool, while maintaining multiple provider options across public and community-based classrooms. By aligning curriculum, strengthening supports, and increasing access, CPPI works to level the playing field for kindergarten readiness districtwide.
Three CPPI Priority Areas
- Expansion of access to affordable, high-quality preschool
- Alignment of curriculum and supports across the mixed-delivery system
- Equitable access to special education and inclusion
A Three-Phase Collaborative Approach
CES began working in a multi-year engagement with Sandwich Public Schools in 2023 following the district’s CPPI community needs assessment and strategic plan completed in June 2022. The goal is to change practice – requiring time and investment in the program. The SPS CPPI team sought a reflective, inclusive, and iterative needs assessment process to guide implementation. Findings identified five key areas for strengthening: Planning, Communication, Curriculum, Professional Development, and Family/Community Engagement.
Phase One: Professional Development Needs Assessment & Initial Training
Phase One focused on conducting a comprehensive Early Childhood Professional Development (EC PD) needs assessment, including surveys, classroom observations, interviews, and a written report. CES then delivered targeted professional development sessions and began supporting the district’s itinerant team in transitioning toward a coaching framework to improve classroom carryover of services.
Phase Two: Practice-Based Coaching & Social-Emotional Learning
During Phase Two, CES expanded professional development offerings, including Practice-Based Coaching sessions with follow-up support to help itinerant staff move from consultation to coaching models. Additional initiatives included:
- A Spring PD series on Promoting Young Children’s Social Emotional Development
- A Positive Behaviors Professional Learning Community (PLC)
- A PD series on FLIP IT (Feeling, Limits, Inquiries, Prompts), a strength-based approach to addressing challenging behaviors
- A family needs survey to better understand childcare and preschool needs in Sandwich
Phase Three: Sustainability & Long-Term Impact
Currently underway, Phase Three centers on classroom observations, coaching, consulting, and alignment efforts to ensure sustainability and long-term impact.
Now in the third year of the partnership, CES is facilitating a Strengthening Practices in Early Childhood PLC series, which began in Fall 2025, along with professional development sessions planned for Spring 2026. The Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)-based PLC is designed to improve program quality through nurturing relationships and fostering joy in early childhood environments. PLC sessions are paired with classroom observations and coaching conversations to reinforce learning and promote best practices.
CES will also conduct a comprehensive EC PD Needs Assessment this school year, including survey design, administration, analysis, and recommendations to guide future planning.
”CES’ deep understanding of the needs of staff in early childhood is expansive. Their staff are collaborative, efficient and responsive to numerous levels of need. Their ability to adapt and maintain the quality of the relationships is unmatched and has allowed us to provide a diverse array of learning experiences for our partners.” — Lauren Galvano, Sandwich Public Schools
Leadership Perspective
“The CES Early Childhood Department is excited to be expanding our partnerships with school districts across the Commonwealth to provide targeted and tailored in-district support for CPPI initiatives,” said Desiree Lalbeharie, Director of the CES Early Childhood Department. “CES uses a team approach of both CES and district staff to guide, inform, and reflect on process and progress, meeting regularly to adapt needs assessments, professional development, and coaching activities as needed. Our approach is informed by DESE and EEC guidelines, Division for Early Childhood Best Practices, and Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center tools and recommendations.”
About the CES Early Childhood Department
The CES Early Childhood Department, a division of the Collaborative for Educational Services, provides expertise, customized training, assessment, coaching, planning, and resources to support preschool and early elementary programs. CES consultants partner with school-based educators and administrators, EEC-approved early childhood providers, Early Intervention programs, community agencies, and families to strengthen inclusive, high-quality early learning systems across Massachusetts.
For more information about CES Early Childhood services, please visit https://www.collaborative.org/consulting/early-childhood-consulting/
