Rochester Preschool Parent Program Records

The Guided Observation program began in 1937. Parents with 3 and 4 year old children took their children into designated classrooms at certain schools for a mixture of socialization and training by teachers on how to observe their childrens' learning. Weekly meetings with parent groups gave opportunities for discussion, especially around home and family issues. Schools 20, 36 and 44 were among the earliest schools involved with the program. The program received a mix of New York State and City School District funding until 1977.

Following budget cuts in 1977, the program was first eliminated, then revived as the Preschool Parent Program, under the leadership of Julie Guttman and Mary Temple. Parent fees rose from $8 to $12 a semester, but the increased funds were the only way that the program was able to survive. Other funding from 1978 to 1998 came through a mixture of United Way, federal Title I and local district funds. The renamed program continued operating under the same principles as Guided Observation had followed, with classroom time for children and parent group meetings. Universal Pre-Kindergarten began in the Rochester City School District in 1998. The Preschool Parent Program continued alongside it for some years to come, but the program came to an end by 2018.