"It's nice when a good collaboration works within our community. Such has been the case with the collaborative approach regarding the federal ELOA (Early Learning Opportunity Act) grant that awarded $921,424 in the fall of 2005. Since that time, some 31 Fayette County lower income early childhood centers have benefited from many resources, including materials, training and technical assistance.
The collaboration has brought several organizations to the table. Success by Six, a United Way initiative, is the recipient of the grant, while Community Action Council is the fiduciary agent for the grant. The Childhood Council of Kentucky provides many of the trainings, personnel and other resources. Dr. Eunice Beatty, who KCTCS-BCTC has generously allowed to devote much of her time from the college, chairs the advisory council for the ELOA project. Around that advisory table also sit many vested individuals in early childhood education. Council members include representation from United Way of the Bluegrass, Fayette County Public Schools, First Steps, Community Action Council, Visually Impaired Program, Child Care Council, LexLinc, Family Care Center and Bluegrass Community and Technical College. By all means a diverse group, yet they all share a passion and commitment to the intent of the grant - to strengthen an effective transition from pre-school to kindergarten. The grant is now over midway through the grant cycle, and a no-cost extension request has been sent to extend through August 2007. In addition, another funding source is being pursued to continue work in the early childhood arena.
"Lexington is fortunate to have a grant of this size awarded to its early childhood community," added Beatty as ELOA Advisory Chair. "The better we prepare our children for school, the greater the opportunity for continuous school success. We are excited about the progress afforded by the ELOA grant thus far, but it will be more exciting to see the readiness and success of these children as they enter school over the next few years. Sustainability is the gift - when the grant goes away, the children and centers still benefit. What these directors, teachers, and children have learned, experienced, and been exposed to will stay in our Lexington community as long as the centers, and teachers, and children are here. Learning truly is a sustained gift that keeps on giving back."
Thirty-one early childhood centers were selected using the grant criteria. These centers are located in areas feeding into Title I Fayette County Elementary Schools. The ELOA grant is making a difference in the lives of over 1,000 preschool children.
Early childhood teachers and directors have received training in the Creative Curriculum and the Early Language Literacy Classroom Observation tools, the same materials used by Fayette County Public Schools, strengthening efforts to make a smooth transition.
Intense mentoring and technical assistance has been implemented to the LEAP Curriculum. LEAP is a national Language Enrichment Activities Program, a unique multi-sensory approach to develop phonic-based reading and preparation in helping children from low-income households become school ready. Over 50 early childhood teachers have been trained.
Thousands of dollars of early childhood materials have been purchased and placed in the centers, including portable toddler sinks to improve health and safety as well as parent awareness resources. Ongoing technical assistance for room arrangement and appropriate developmental practices in the classroom has been carefully implemented to utilize all materials fully.
All early childhood centers were asked to participate in the STARS childcare rating system, an initiative of KIDS NOW in Kentucky. At the start of the grant, nine centers had STAR ratings; currently 27 sites have STAR ratings.
"The ELOA grant has been very beneficial to the community," added Fay Aweimrin, director of Bright Beginnings Childcare, and ELOA recipient. "It enabled me to take my in-home day care from a three-star rated center to a four-star rated center. The LEAP program that is implemented works. The children are enjoying the program while learning. Anything that can improve the quality of early childhood education in Kentucky is necessary. I feel privileged to be a part of this grant."
Kathy Plomin is president and chief professional officer of United Way of the Bluegrass.