Cisco Foundation Renews Grant to Enhance SIPPS Programming in the Bay Area
Cisco Foundation has renewed its $50,000 grant to Think Together, continuing its support for early literacy and numeracy programs in the Alum Rock Union Elementary School District (ARUSD). This funding will further the implementation of the Systematic Instruction in Phonological Awareness, Phonics, and Sight Words (SIPPS) program for students in transitional kindergarten (TK) and kindergarten.
SIPPS is now integrated into Think Together’s early learning and kindergarten academies, equipping staff with essential training to effectively deliver this structured literacy approach in the classroom. By focusing on phonological awareness, sound spelling, and sight words, the program plays a crucial role in enhancing literacy skills among young learners.
Our seven-year partnership with ARUSD has been pivotal to the success of the SIPPS implementation so far. Regular meetings and shared goals have helped hundreds of students achieve critical academic benchmarks.
“We value our partnership with Think Together. Through our collaboration, we are setting Alum Rock students up for future academic success,” said Director of Early Learning for Alum Rock Union School District, Dr. Diana Ballesteros.
In the 2023-24 school year, Think Together enrolled 226 students across four ARUSD schools, witnessing significant progress in academic achievement:
- 94.73% of TK students improved in letter recognition.
- 96.6% advanced in number recognition.
- 82.34% showed progress in counting objects.
“Programs like SIPPS are vital for advancing the academic development of the students we serve,” said Amina Flores, Assistant Site Coordinator at Lyndale Elementary School. “They align perfectly with Think Together’s mission to change the odds for kids.”
According to Evidence for ESSA, SIPPS supports both new and struggling readers through a systematic, structured literacy approach that emphasizes language comprehension and word recognition.
“Studies have shown that investing in high-quality childcare and pre-K programs offers a significant return on investment,” said Rosie Navarro at Cisco Systems Inc. “Think Together’s programs are based in East San Jose where I was born and raised. As a Cisco employee and volunteer with the Cisco Foundation, it is so fulfilling to promote the Cisco Foundation CIG Program that brings resources to community groups such as Think Together. By supporting children at a young age, Cisco and beneficiaries of the Cisco Foundation CIG Program like Think Together lay the foundation for lifelong learning and success for both this generation and future generations.”
Think Together is proud to partner with Cisco to expand educational opportunities and help children succeed.
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