The Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education (ADECE) has awarded funds from the state’s federal Preschool Development Grant, Birth-Five (PDG B-5) to Troy University’s Coleman Center for Early Learning and Family Enrichment to support high quality early learning and care experiences for teachers and students alike.

A $592,966 grant from the Department, funded through the PDG B-5, will help Coleman Center staff obtain more advanced education credentials, and will provide high quality early learning materials as well as developmentally appropriate outside play materials.

“We know that 95% of a child’s brain develops from before birth through age 5,” said Secretary of Early Childhood Education Dr. Barbara J. Cooper. “A child’s first five years provides a solid learning foundation for an entire lifetime of success, both inside and outside of the classroom. The First Class Foundations initiative will support us with our priority to work with families to improve the early development, learning and health of their children by connecting them with outstanding early learning opportunities.”

The grant is awarded as part of First Class Foundations, a statewide initiative funded by the PDG B-5, with the goal of ensuring “all Alabama children are healthy and emotionally ready to enter kindergarten … and strong supports are provided to assist families in making informed choices.”

ADECE will also provide the Coleman Center with coaches certified in infant and toddler development. These coaches will work with the Coleman Center’s teachers to improve the quality of child care provided by the center.

“The First Class Foundations initiative will ensure Coleman Center remains a model for birth-five early childhood education in the Wiregrass and throughout the state,” said Coleman Center Director Nancy Mitta.

Located at the university’s Dothan Campus, the Coleman Center provides high-quality early learning and care for children in the Wiregrass region from six weeks through 5 years old. First Class Foundations was made possible by grant number 90TP0065-01-00.  Its contents are solely The responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. Learn more about Alabama’s PDG B-5 here: https://children.alabama.gov/preschool-development-grant/.

https://today.troy.edu/news/coleman-center-receives-federal-grant-to-assist-teachers-children/