Sandwich, MA — The Collaborative for Educational Services Early Childhood Department (CES-ECD) 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.
CPPI works to level the playing field for kindergarten readiness districtwide through:
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-ECD 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. CES-ECD was hired to address professional development for participating CPPI partners with the goal to improve and strengthen early childhood practices. CES-ECD committed to provide a reflective, inclusive, and iterative process and experience
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-ECD 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-ECD expanded professional development (PD) offerings, including Practice-Based Coaching sessions with follow-up support to help itinerant staff move from consultation to coaching models. Additional initiatives included:
- PD series on Promoting Young Children’s Social Emotional Development
- A Positive Behaviors Professional Learning Community (PLC)
- 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
Now in the third year of the partnership Phase Three centers on a Strengthening Practices in Early Childhood PLC series, which began in Fall 2025. This Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)-based PLC is designed to improve program quality through nurturing relationships, developmentally appropriate practices through PLAY and fostering joy in early childhood environments. PLC sessions are paired with classroom observations and coaching conversations to reinforce learning and promote early childhood best practices.
CES-ECD will conduct a comprehensive review of FY26 programming and facilitate reflective activities to guide and inform 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 [CPPI] partners.” — Lauren Galvano, Sandwich Public Schools
Leadership Perspective
“We are excited to expand our partnerships with school districts across the Commonwealth to provide targeted and tailored in-district support for CPPI initiatives,” said Desirée Lalbeharie, Director of the CES Early Childhood Department. “We use a team approach of our early childhood experts, district staff and CPPI community partners to reflect, guide, and inform process and progress. We are flexible and curious with a human-centered approach that includes meeting regularly to adapt to ensure our services, including but not limited to needs assessments, strategic planning, professional development, consulting and coaching are relevant and responsive. Our approach is informed by DESE and EEC guidelines, Division for Early Childhood Best Practices, and the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center.”
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/
