Jackson Free Press

Mississippi is one of only 10 states without public, statewide early childhood education, leaving a hodgepodge of agencies and organizations to help children prepare for kindergarten. Now, the state is applying for $50 million in federal grant money to help the state better coordinate those organizations' efforts.

The funding is available through a program called Race to the Top: Early Learning Challenge. Annjo Lemons, executive director of the State Early Childhood Advisory Council, thinks Mississippi's chances are good.

"A lot of people don't realize what's been going on in the state, as far as the work with the quality ratings system and professional development," she said.

The State Early Childhood Advisory Council consists of educators and representatives from government agencies and nonprofit organizations and is leading the state's application process for the Early Learning Challenge. The council reports to the governor and makes recommendations for improving services for children 5 years old or younger.

Mississippi applied for Race to the Top funding last year but did not get it, and did not apply the first year it was available. This year, $500 million of the $700 million available for Race to the Top grants will go toward early childhood education programs.

Lemons said about 80 Mississippians are working together on committees to write the grant application. The committees focus on areas the Early Learning Challenge prioritizes, such as assessments, quality ratings for facilities and improving the teachers' skills.

"For the first time I've ever known, all the state agencies in Mississippi have come together to agree to either consolidate agencies or work together to try to make a better place for children," she said.

The committees are looking at other states with strong early childhood systems to help them develop a program for Mississippi.

"We've got the pieces and the parts in Mississippi and a lot of great things going on, but it doesn't really connect," Lemons said.

The grant application includes plans for assessments, health-care needs and family engagement. It also incorporates the state's quality rating program for early childhood education facilities.

The application also outlines a plan for compensating child-care providers and funding continuing education scholarships.

One of the goals outlined in Mississippi's grant application is creating a comprehensive early childhood education system for the entire state. Although many different agencies and organizations work with pre-kindergarten education, Lemons said the grant money would go toward cross-training between state agencies to tie them together.

The grant would also help provide resources for facilities that provide early childhood education to improve their quality ratings and provide better services.

Lemons said the grant is competitive, however, and 35 other states are applying. Rachel Canter, executive director of Mississippi First, said states that have gotten Race to the Top grants in the past have, for the most part, already had the basic building blocks of strong programs in place and based their grant applications on plans to improve them.

"I think we are at a disadvantage, because we do not have state resources at any discernible level in early childhood education," Canter said. "... As a state, we haven't shown that strong commitment that other states (have)."

The application guidelines said those who review the applications may take the challenges that rural, high-poverty states like Mississippi face into consideration, however. Research has shown that low-income children come to kindergarten knowing fewer words than their peers. Those who do not have access to a pre-kindergarten program may have trouble catching up if they are not ready for kindergarten-level programs.

States must submit applications for the Race to the Top: Early Learning Challenge grant program by Oct. 19.

Previous Comments

ID

165170

Comment

I am very excited and happy to see at least some movement toward getting a quality Pre-K system in place for the State. I hope we continue to push for it and make it work - whether we get the grant or not. Its too important to Mississippi's future.

Author

BobbyKearan

Date

2011-10-14T06:52:51-06:00