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Early Childhood Education

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION INITIATIVE

The Northwest Mississippi Early Childhood Resource and Referral Center is improving the foundation of our children’s education.  The goal is to increase the percentage of children in the region who are educationally prepared to start kindergarten.

 The Center is a truly unique partnership initiated by the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi with a $40,000 grant and the commitment of its Board.  Partners in the Center are the Early Childhood Institute at Mississippi State University, the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service, the Day Foundation in Memphis and the First Regional Library.

 Mississippi is one of only 12 states that do not provide state funding for the education of children below kindergarten age.  On a local level, our state’s public schools are not allowed by law to spend any money educating these children.

Regardless of what state government can do, we believe that Mississippi children deserve the same 14 or 15 years of educational experience as children from most other states.  This initiative helps children in public, private, family and faith-based child care sites.  Just think of the difference it can make when children entering kindergarten really are ready to learn!

Research has demonstrated that high-quality early education contributes to increased high school graduation rates and reductions in youth delinquency and crime.  The Chicago Child Parent Center study estimated that every $1 investment produced a $7 savings based on reducing the cost of remedial education and justice system expenses and increasing earnings and government tax revenues. 

Effective child care resources form an economic development issue for parents and other adults.  If child care centers and family-based providers were not available, how many workers would have to stay home with children and how many companies would not have enough workers to function?  Early childhood care is essential to our region’s economy.

 The Northwest Mississippi Early Childhood Resource and Referral Center acts as a resource for child care centers and family providers of child care and it will help parents find child care that meets their children’s needs.  With this assistance, child care centers and workers can enhance the education of young children.

 The library system, which has sites in DeSoto. Tate, Tunica and Panola counties, has been actively engaged in working with child care centers and workers.  It provides bags to new mothers, presents puppet shows of children’s stories, lends kits for multimedia story-telling, supports the Mother Read/Father Read Program, Words on Wheels and helps in many other ways.  The library system is physically housing the Resource and Referral Center and provides support materials and equipment.

 The Early Childhood Institute is providing ways to measure the improvements in child care centers and among the workers.  It will introduce proven methods for improvement.  The Institute is assisting in establishing clear goals, benchmarks, mentoring, group training and technical assistance through evaluations and plans for action.

 The Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service, in cooperation with the Early Childhood Institute, is working with family-based child care providers in much the same way. 

The Center gives parents information on how to choose a child care center.  It also has a listing of licensed child care centers and their services, which can help parents find an appropriate place to care for and educate their young children.

 The Day Foundation of Memphis has provided a matching grant to begin the Resource and Referral Center.

 The Community Foundation, which initiated the project and provided initial funding, serves eight counties in Northwest Mississippi.  While seeking to connect people who care with causes that matter, the Foundation has made education, health care and young people its priorities.  The Foundation is forming a local advisory council to ensure that the Early Childhood Resource and Referral Center achieves its maximum effectiveness for Northwest Mississippi families.