The First in Their Family to Attend "Gradinita"

Last fall 19 communities offered food coupons to parents of impoverished children in exchange for their children’s daily attendance at “gradinita”.  Ten months later the results are amazing.  From 836 children qualifying for coupons in October, daily attendance grew to 1093 children (out of 1310 who were eligible) in May. The recipe for getting high attendance among disadvantaged children? Teacher training, local authorities’ support — and FOOD COUPONS to encourage poor parents to make daily attendance a family priority.