7 new early learning collaboratives approved by Mississippi Board of Education

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The Mississippi State Board of Training (SBE) voted on Thursday, April 21, 2022, so as to add seven new early studying collaboratives (ELC) to the present record of 23 to offer high-quality early childhood schooling pre-Okay applications to 4-year-old college students.

The ELC enlargement is made attainable by $15.4 million in grants from state funds for the 2021-22 college yr. Appropriations for ELCs have steadily elevated because the 2014-15 college yr to a cumulative complete of $51 million, together with $8 million in 2020-21.

The brand new ELCs are:

• Jackson Public Faculties – Hinds Early Studying Collaborative                          
• Noxubee Early Studying Collaborative                     
• Senatobia Early Studying Collaborative                   
• Holmes Early Studying Collaborative                      
• Leland Early Studying Collaborative            
• Lengthy Seashore Early Studying Collaborative                
• Pontotoc Pre-Okay Companions Early Studying Collaborative  (Pontotoc Metropolis solely)                            

The seven new ELCs will serve 2,050 pre-Okay 4-year-olds in 35 new lecture rooms and 72 current lecture rooms, bringing the overall variety of ELC college students to greater than 6,000. The entire variety of pre-Okay 4-year-olds served because the 2014-15 college yr is greater than 21,000.

MDE’s Workplace of Early Childhood oversees the ELC program.