ECSS receives $4.3 million grant

The Early County School System has been awarded a $4.3 million Early Reading First grant by the U.S. Department of Education. Early County was one of four Georgia school systems and 32 nationwide to receive the three-year grant.

The Reading First program supports training and programs for early childhood development centers serving 3 and 4-year-old children with an emphasis on preparing every child for a successful start to school.

Project director Sonja Rowland said, "We are so excited about the opportunities Early Reading First brings to the children of Early County."

The program supports the development of early childhood centers of excellence that focus on all areas of development, especially on the early language, cognitive, and pre-reading skills that prepare children for continued school success and that serve primarily children from low-income families.

The program provides family literacy services, professional development for pre-k workers and childcare workers and learning opportunities

for pre-school age children.

Eligibility for the grant competition included

having a Reading First project in the community. Early County Elementary School is currently in its third year of a five year grant. The Early Reading First program will enhance opportunities for pre-school children while Reading First offers school-age children a wide-range of language support.

Locally, Head Start and Early County pre-k will benefit from the grant program as well as daycare and other early childhood program providers who attend training offered through the project.

For more information about the Early Reading First program, contact Sonja Rowland at 723-4331 or visit www.ed.gov/programs/ earlyreading.

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