Local preschool wins award for kindergarten readiness

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Local preschool wins award for kindergarten readiness

November 14, 2019

Early Learning Community was chosen as one of nine pre-K programs in the state to receive the Strong Start for Kindergarten Prize. The school received $5,000, funded from the state’s Preschool Development Grant.

With the money, officials plan to provide kindergarten-readiness camps for children over the summer, as well as offer sessions for parents to learn more about the process.

Early Learning Community is a nonprofit community preschool, which provides services to children ages 3 to 5. The preschool operates out of a pair of Greenwood Community elementary schools, Northeast and Westwood.

“Because preschool is not affordable, we want to do more in between the school years. These camps will let us share information with parents about what to expect when their kids go to kindergarten,” said Dawn Underwood, preschool director of Early Learning Communtiy. “We want to be a resource to families in our community who don’t understand the process and for children who have never been to preschool.”

For the full article, click here.

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Early Learning Community breaks ground on expansion project

By Ryan Trares • January 6, 2025

All they wanted to do was dig in the dirt. As staff members, families and supporters of Early Learning Community Preschool gathered to celebrate a milestone announcement, students of the school were far more interested in using the little toy shovels to work the ground where a new school building would stand. Their enthusiasm was warranted — after all, this groundbreaking was a huge step forward for early childhood education in Johnson County. “So with this expansion, we’re excited to create a warm and welcoming safe place that truly reflects the heart of our school family, where our children can be seen and heard and celebrated,” said Dawn Underwood, director of Early Learning Community. The expansion will allow the school to double the number of students it serves, from about 40 currently to 80 to 100 in the future. Having a building to call their own has been extraordinary, but the need for early childhood education is still great. That’s why school leadership pursued the expansion. In November 2023, Early Learning Community leaders applied for funding through Indiana’s Child Care Expansion Grant program, offered through the Family and Social Service Administration’s Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning. Out of about 300 applicants, the preschool was one of 24 chosen to receive a grant — totaling $620,000. Kids and their parents migrated to the school’s playground, where a foam machine had turned the grassy area into a sudsy wonderland. In between playing, they could enjoy root beer floats. At an exciting time for Early Learning Community Preschool, it was an ideal way to celebrate. “In the spirit of all things we do here: We will play!” Hogan said. Read the full article here.