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Save the Children Awarded Early Childhood Grant
Westport, Conn. (September 10, 2007) — Save the Children, in partnership with Zero to Three, the Eastern Kentucky Child Care Coalition and the University of North Carolina's Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, has been awarded an early childhood education grant by the U.S. Department of Education.
The $4.5 million, three-year grant was awarded under the Early Childhood Educator Professional Development Program, which works to improve school readiness among young children by enhancing the skills and knowledge of educators serving low-income communities. With these funds, Save the Children will be able to reach 160 early childhood educators in Eastern Kentucky, providing them with high-quality professional development programming focusing on early language and literacy.
Save the Children's Early Steps to School Success program, which includes 10 program sites in Eastern Kentucky, provides early childhood education services to expectant parents, children from birth to age 5 and their families, and offers ongoing training to early childhood educators in the community. The program focuses on developing early language skills and providing families with the information and support they need to prepare their children for a strong start at school. Early Steps coordinators work with families during home visits, community meetings and transition-to-school activities.
“On the first day of school, every child should arrive in the classroom prepared for success,” said Mark Shriver, Vice President and Managing Director of Save the Children’s U.S. Programs. “Thanks to this grant, Save the Children and its partners will be helping ensure Kentucky’s children are ready to read and ready to succeed at school.”
