Early Learning Indiana Invests $418,000 to Educate 300 More Infants, Toddlers & Preschoolers
On December 14, Early Learning Indiana announced that seven programs will receive a total of approximately $418,000 to expand high-quality early education opportunities throughout the state. These funds will allow programs to serve more than 300 Hoosier infants, toddlers and preschool/pre-K students. In Indiana, two-thirds of young children live in families where all parents work.
This expansion opportunity is made possible by a $20-million, five-year Lilly Endowment grant made in 2014 that funds Early Learning Indiana’s Partnerships for Early Learner’s capacity building efforts. The campaign aims to increase access to high-quality educational opportunities for Hoosier children from birth to five years old. The grantees will begin work in January 2017 and expand over the course of the coming year. Programs in Delaware, Dubois, Brown, Grant, Vanderburgh, Wabash and Wayne Counties will offer 311 children and their families access to effective, engaging early childhood experiences, thanks to these funds. For a list of programs and their expansion goals, please see the list below.
“Throughout Indiana, early education provides both a great start for young learners and a critical support for working families,” said Ted Maple, Early Learning Indiana President and CEO. “We know that tens of thousands of low-income four-year olds have no access to high-quality pre-K. These new early childhood seats will make a small, but meaningful step in addressing this challenge in the targeted communities.”
These grants are part of Partnerships for Early Learners’ goal of adding 1,000 high-quality, sustainable seats in Indiana’s early learning landscape by 2020. Prior to this round of investment, Partnerships for Early Learners’ capacity building grants have funded 591 new high-quality early childhood opportunities for Hoosier children.
Early Childhood Program Investments:
Community Action Program of Evansville Head Start in Evansville, Vanderburgh County
Classroom materials will outfit an existing space to add an additional 52 infant, toddler and preschool seats. Funds will additionally support professional development for staff and family engagement programming. The school will operate as a lab school for Ivy Tech Community College students.
Muncie Community Schools in Muncie, Delaware County
Facility improvements and classroom materials will add an additional 60 preschool seats, including part-day, full-day and special education. Funds will additionally support professional development for staff and family engagement programming. All early learning classrooms will advance through Paths to QUALITY™.
HUMmingbird Day Care Ministry in Holland, Dubois County
Classroom materials and instructional supports will outfit 4 classrooms to add an additional 24 infant and toddler seats.
Brown County Schools in Nineveh, Brown County
Facility improvements, classroom materials, and instructional supports will add an additional 60 preschool seats, including special education. Funds will additionally support professional development for staff. All early learning classrooms will advance through Paths to QUALITY™.
Ole Miss Preschool in Jonesboro, Grant County
Classroom materials will outfit two new classrooms at Mississinewa Community Schools to add 34 preschool seats, including a new full-day option for 3 year olds. Funds will additionally support professional development for staff and family engagement programming.
Manchester Early Learning Center in North Manchester, Wabash County
Classroom materials will outfit a newly constructed facility to add an additional 47 infant, toddler, and preschool seats.
Oak Park Early Learning Academy in Richmond, Wayne County
Facility improvements, classroom materials, and instructional supports will add an additional 34 infant, toddler, and preschool seats. Funds will additionally support professional development for staff. All early learning classrooms will advance through Paths to QUALITY™.
Learn more about Partnerships for Early Learner’s quality expansion efforts.
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