Let there be light. Inside what used to be three dimly lit storage rooms at the former North Highland School in Jasper, two girls sit reading books in a totally transformed space designed for early learning. It’s now the largest classroom in the building with room for up to 18 children.
The renovation resulted from the vision of Jasper Area Family Services Center (JAFSC) and funding from a variety of community partners, including the Early Learning Acceleration Institute (ELAI), a United Way Bold Goals Coalition initiative. The space is the latest addition to JAFSC’s daycare operation and has been in use since February. Just last year, JAFSC transitioned from being a Walker County Head Start provider to one of Alabama’s newest First Class Pre-K programs.
During the transition, United Way of Central Alabama (UWCA) recognized the quality of the operation, and a grant helped ensure that the new classroom would be not only well-lit but well equipped with school supplies and books.
Supporting efforts, such as the new classroom, to expand and improve early education is vital to children’s success. And it’s about much more than just construction, said Suzanne Snow, Director of JAFSC’s First Class Pre-K program.
“We provide children with school-readiness skills, social skills, social and emotional skills, along with the pre-developmental reading skills,” Snow said. “Without that, many children go to kindergarten behind.”
While JAFSC was able to complete its new classroom using funding from the very first round of ELAI grants, more than 175 new childcare spaces will be created across Central Alabama following the release of nine more grants to early-learning centers in Jefferson and Walker counties. These include:
- Busy Bee Academy Childcare Center in Bessemer.
- Elizabeth Perry Rushton Child Development Center in Birmingham.
- The Ivy League Inc. in Sumiton.
- Joshua Learning Tree Academy in Tarrant.
- Life Changers Christian Academy in Forestdale.
- LoveJoy Ministries in Birmingham.
- Metropolitan Day School in Fairview.
- Trinity Love Ministry Inc. in Bessemer.
- We Are 1 in Irondale.
There are fewer than five childcare centers per 1,000 children in Central Alabama, averaged across UWCA’s six county service area. But through ELAI, United Way is working with Women’s Foundation of Alabama, Childcare Resources and a variety of local experts to expand and improve the availability of early-learning opportunities, as well as the quality.
Katrina Watson, Senior Vice President of Community Impact at UWCA, said, “The idea of collective impact, where we bring people together to create and resource solutions, is one of the pillars of our work. We are so happy that this collaborative work has provided funding and small-business training to help childcare providers reach more children and to continue serving them well. By funding nine more centers, we will no doubt help ensure access to high-quality childcare for hundreds of our children.”
The Early Learning Acceleration Institute is a program that addresses education and assists providers on multiple levels. Each of the centers receiving grants through ELAI has access to:
- Training in early-learning best practices and teaching strategies.
- Business development training to ensure long-term financial sustainability.
- Technical assistance in accessing state-funded programs.
- Up to $25,000 to support facility enhancements.
For more information about the work UWCA does to improve Early Childhood Development and Education in Central Alabama, visit https://www.uwca.org/impact/early-childhood.