Each spring, families across Tulsa begin the important process of enrolling their children in Pre-K—a step that plays a critical role in a child’s long-term educational success. Yet 1 in 4 families of color do not complete the process as a result of persistent barriers to enrollment. Information is hard to access, systems are often confusing, and deadlines can pass before families are even aware that enrollment has begun.
This year, Pre-K for All 2.0, a resurgence of the Pre-K For All campaign that launched in 2019, was reignited to dismantle persistent enrollment inequities facing Tulsa families. As a backbone organization, ImpactTulsa directly responded to data trends and families’ lived experience to mobilize cross-sector partners, align data strategies, and center community members to reduce barriers and support families. The approach emphasized early planning, coordinated outreach, and trusted community voices—all grounded in a shared commitment to access in early learning.
Coordinated Leadership that Moves Systems
Strong systems change is rooted in collaboration, alignment, and timely decision-making. As the lead coordinating body for Pre-K for All 2.0, ImpactTulsa helped ensure that planning, communication, and data use were integrated across the initiative.
Through strategic convening, ImpactTulsa brought together all school districts within Tulsa County and other partners to align efforts and establish shared strategies. This early coordination helped eliminate duplication and streamlined rapid innovation in outreach across districts.
Targeted data played a critical role. Using census data and historical enrollment trends, the team identified specific neighborhoods where Pre-K enrollment was disproportionately low. Partners used this data to inform outreach strategies and maximize impact. When data revealed that enrollment in the Robertson Elementary neighborhood was lagging, partners redirected resources to door-to-door canvassing and local events in that area.
Infrastructure was built to support families and remove confusion. The development and launch of PreKTulsa.com provided families with access to accurate, district-specific enrollment information across 17 school districts—delivered through a single, easy-to-navigate platform.
A coordinated media and messaging strategy helped raise awareness citywide. Partners aligned on visuals and messaging to ensure that families saw consistent and timely reminders across platforms, including bus ads, billboards, and a targeted digital ad campaign.
Each of these elements worked in concert to create a more accessible and aligned Pre-K enrollment process for Tulsa families.
Community-Centered Engagement Through Parent Leadership
In addition to systems-level work, the initiative prioritized community-driven outreach. Seventeen trained Parent Advocates, representing the neighborhoods they served, engaged directly with families, knocking on more than 7,500 doors.
These advocates were trusted messengers, offering support and information based on lived experience. Their leadership helped bridge the gap between families and formal systems, ensuring that questions were answered and that families had the resources they needed to make informed decisions.
In the process, Parent Advocates built lasting relationships, not only with the families they served but with each other. From celebrating holidays together to sharing personal motivation for their work, the team created a strong foundation of trust and collaboration.
A Collective Model for Early Learning Access
Pre-K for All 2.0 stands as a strong example of how collective leadership, data-driven planning, and community voice can come together to strengthen access to early childhood education.
As ImpactTulsa and its partners work toward the goal of placing 100,491 Tulsa youth on a path to economic mobility by 2030, campaigns like this help demonstrate what effective collaboration looks like in practice.
The work continues. Sustained progress will require continued investment, strong coordination, and deeper alignment.
ImpactTulsa remains committed to building systems that serve all families, starting with early learning and extending across the cradle-to-career continuum. For more information on getting involved, email us a ana@impacttulsa.org