In communities throughout the state, quality early childhood programs are working to make sure Kansas children are ready to succeed in school and in life. Here are a few examples of what can happen when we adequately invest in early childhood education:

Mitchell County Early Learning Center
Beloit, KS

The Mitchell County Early Learning Center in Beloit is a good example of what the state of Kansas can do to help create more voluntary, high-quality early childhood opportunities. The Center, which is on the campus of the Beloit Juvenile Correctional Facility, was developed through agency partnerships that included the school district, the special education cooperative, the community resource council and government agencies. Resources from the Children’s Initiatives Fund (CIF) allow the Center to coordinate services, meet the needs of the community and assure high quality services.

The Early Learning Center houses the USD 273 Early Childhood Special Education Department, a countywide Parents as Teachers program, the Mitchell County Partnership for Children, a health and safety educator, a mental health coordinator, and a Parent/Provider Resource Center. Recently, the Early Childhood Block Grant allowed the Center to open an additional unit to care for at-risk infants and toddlers.

“We’ve seen the research that indicates that early learning is crucial during the first few years of life, but more importantly, we see the real-life evidence every day right here in our classrooms,” said Karen Pahls, Executive Director of the Mitchell County Partnership for Children. “Children who participate in early learning programs do better in the K-12 system, they’re better prepared to learn, and they’re better students. These are the kids that have a real leg up when it comes to success in school and in life.”

The Center doesn’t only promote high-quality on site but works to promote quality wherever children may be in the community. A Parent/Provider Resource Center is available where child care providers and parents can come for materials and classes that are offered on parenting and caring for children. Additionally, families can access preventative services such as hearing and vision screenings and consultation on behavioral issues.

Meeting the quality standards set by the state did not happen overnight. Resources from the CIF made it possible to coordinate service and provide the kind of assistance that families need so that their children will enter school ready to learn.