By By Adrienne McKenzie
Freemanville Head Start is flying high in first class.
Recently Alabama Gov. Bob Riley announced that Freemanville Head Start would be one of the several Pre-K sites assisted by Pre-K Excellence Grants or Pre-K State Supported Slots.
Riley said 107 new classrooms, which serve 1,926 children, will obtain funding in order to become First Class Pre-K sites. The additional children helped by the program makes the grand total 3,384.
Gov. Riley made public his wish to increase the Alabama statewide voluntary Pre-K program at the end of 2007. The Pre-K program is especially for 4-year-olds and provides qualified teachers who offer high-quality Pre-K instruction.
There are 50 Pre-K classrooms that will be assisted by the Pre-K Excellence Grants, which come in the amount of $45,000.
The Pre-K State Supported Slots of at least $45,000 will assist Freemanville Head Start. Additional funding is available depending upon the number of low and middle-income children in the class. The Pre-K Supported Slots will assist 57 classrooms statewide.
According to a release from Gov. Riley’s office, the state’s Pre-K program is No. 1 in the United States for its high-quality standards, which include “small student to teacher ratios, teacher qualifications, professional development for teachers and total evaluation of the child’s academic, social and basic health needs.”
According to director of the Alabama Office of School Readiness Dr. Marquita Davis, the First Class Pre-K program is to prep these students for the rest of their lives.