Taking Action: Expanding Pre-K Access

The Early Learning Action Network of Bold Goals Education works to ensure all children are ready to learn when they start kindergarten. To achieve this goal, the Early Learning Action Network is helping more communities have access to Alabama First Class Pre-K Classrooms through a community-based expansion pilot project. Through this project, the Early Learning Action Network has assembled a cohort of community-based private childcare centers. Members of the cohort commit to working with the Network to assess the quality of their centers, make improvements if necessary, and ultimately apply for public funding through First Class Pre-K. On Wednesday, September 28th the cohort met for an Application Review Session deep-diving into the components of the Alabama State Department of Early Childhood Education’s First Class Pre-K Grant. Over the next several months, cohort members will be paired with a technical assistance coordinator from either Alabama Public Television, Childcare Resources, or Success By 6 who will assist and support the cohort members as they start the application, which will open at the end of the year. The technical assistance coordinators will connect them to resources, providing guidance to solve problems that may arise, and act as cheerleaders at every step of the process. Statewide, 1 out of every 4 four-year-olds has access to a First Class Pre-K classroom. Through our community-based expansion pilot, Bold Goals Education is working to expand access so that more Central Alabama children will benefit from this nationally-recognized program and enter kindergarten ready to learn.