During the 2025–2026 school year, PRE4CLE partnered with several of Cleveland’s leading cultural institutions to pilot experiential learning opportunities aligned with the PRE4CLE Early Learning Initiative (PELI). The pilot explored how community-based learning experiences could reinforce classroom instruction while providing meaningful educational experiences for preschool children.
The pilot included partnerships with:
- Cleveland Botanical Garden
- Cleveland Children’s Museum
- Cleveland Museum of Natural History
- Cleveland History Center
- Nature Center at Shaker Lakes
Each institution developed experiences connected to classroom learning and early literacy concepts.
Participating providers were able to:
- Visit local educational institutions with their classrooms
- Connect classroom lessons to real-world experiences
- Introduce children to community resources
- Support vocabulary development and oral language
- Reinforce concepts introduced through PELI
During the pilot year:
- Multiple preschool programs participated across Cleveland.
- Institutions designed age-appropriate learning experiences.
- Providers received opportunities to extend classroom learning beyond their school walls.
- Children engaged in hands-on exploration, observation, music, science, nature, and interactive learning.
The success of the pilot demonstrated the value of connecting classrooms with community institutions. These partnerships not only enrich children’s learning but also help providers discover resources they can continue using long after a single field experience.
PRE4CLE looks forward to expanding opportunities for providers to engage with Cleveland’s outstanding educational and cultural institutions in the years ahead.
