Shaker Heights Named UPK School Award Winner

The Shaker Heights Schools were recognized as the 2025 National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) Universal PreKindergarten (UPK) Award Winner!

NNPS, housed at Johns Hopkins University, is a research-based program focused on improving student success through family and community engagement. It provides support and resources to schools, districts and organizations to develop and sustain effective family and community engagement programs. The UPK program in some areas, including Cuyahoga County, utilizes the NNPS model to enhance family engagement practices.

The NNPS framework utilizes six types of involvement, including parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision-making, and collaborating with the community. NNPS provides coaching, training, and planning materials to support schools in implementing its framework.

The PreK team and District staff hosted a variety of family engagement events last year, including an International Families and Friends Potluck Dinner and a STEAM Night!

This past year, our Action Team included representatives from the Office of Family and Community Engagement (FACE), Onaway Elementary School, the Shaker Schools Foundation, and the Shaker Heights Preschool (soon to be the Ludlow Early Learning Center, opening in Fall 2025!)

Congratulations to our preschool team for winning this prestigious award!