Big Bang for Your Buck

On February 14, 2013, President Barack Obama spoke in Decatur, Georgia about early childhood education.  He stated, "The earlier child begins learning, the better they are down the road."  He did not elaborate on how young children are learning (play or academics) ,but Obama said that children across America are going to kindergarten on the first day behind.  Only 3 in 10, four year old children are enrolled in a highly qualified preschool.  If America invest $1 in early childhood education, we will save $7 later in the child's life.  Obama declared we get more bang for our buck when we invest in early childhood education.

While visiting Decatur, GA, Obama visited a classroom at the College Heights Learning Centers.  I thought if the president visited this early childhood center, it must be a special place.  However it was not the center that impressed me, it was the story on how they came to be.

In 1998, over 2000 Head Start children in the Atlanta area were attending facilities in deplorable conditions.  After realizing the need for a safe environment for children to learn, a group of philanthropists formed the Early Learning Project Management (ELPM) in 1999.  

ELPM’s mission is to build high quality early learning centers primarily in disadvantaged neighborhoods that provide high quality education and nurturing programs birth through five years old.   Over the past 12 years ELPM has purchased, renovated or constructed 13 high quality early education centers located in Fulton, DeKalb, Greene, Gwinnett and Paulding counties which has service over 15,000 children and families.  ELPM works with the community to allow potential owners to either buy or lease the property.  ELPM has formed also partnerships with colleges to form teaching labs at the facilities across the Atlanta area.  With these partnerships, a greater amount of centers benefit causing them to become better centers. 

Better centers, better children. Better children, better future!

If you would like to hear Obama's speech on early childhood education, click here: http://youtu.be/ZQco0ScAJRg

If you would to find out more about the Early Learning Project Management, click here:  http://www.elpm.org/index.php