Albany State University
Release: 06/9/08
Albany, Georgia

ASU named a state Pre-K site

On Friday the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning named Albany State University as a new provider of the state’s pre-kindergarten program with a class that will begin in August.

“What we’re trying to do is obtain all the state grants that are available so that we’ll be able to help parents and children get into our programs and provide training for ASU students,” said Jeannette Lucas, director of the ASU Early Learning Center, where the state Pre-K program will be housed. “Now we’ll have the additional funds that we need to maintain what we’ve started: a state-of-the-art program and equipment for the children.”

The Early Learning Center, which opened in the fall of 2007, already had an existing preschool class for 4-year-olds during the 2007-08 school year. The state Pre-K class will replace the previous class. No new employees need to be hired for the state Pre-K class.

“Our teachers already meet and exceed the state qualification mandates,” Lucas said.
Registration for the ASU state Pre-K program is on a first-come-first-serve basis. The program is made possible by a $75,000 grant from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. The one-year grant covers the cost of a certified teacher and supplies for that class. ASU also received an additional $8,000 to be used for start-up costs.

“We’re very excited about this because this will afford students in Dougherty County an education provided by the state lottery system and a quality education at the Albany State University Early Learning Center,” said Connie Leggett, director of Title III program at ASU. “This grant will also assist us in becoming a self-sufficient Early Learning Center as we continue to seek our national accreditation. We look forward to acquiring additional funds that will allow us to go beyond what we could normally do with funds from tuition.”

Established in 1993, the Pre-K program is funded by the Georgia Lottery to provide a high quality education preparing 4-year-old children for success in kindergarten. The Pre-K program is provided at no cost to parents. Each class is limited to 20 children and taught by a lead teacher and an assistant teacher.
            
ASU students will also benefit from the state Pre-K program.
            
“I think they’ll benefit because this is the opportunity to work with children and families of all backgrounds,” Lucas said.

According to the Georgia Lottery website, more than $3 billion has been used to educate more than 860,000 4-year-olds in Pre-K programs throughout the state.
To participate in the Georgia Pre-K Program, a child must be 4 years old on Sept. 1 of the current school year, live in Georgia, complete required immunizations and have a completed certificate for an ear, eye and dental examination. There are no family income requirements for a child to participate in Pre-K. Each Pre-K site operates for 180 days per year with 6.5 hours of core instruction per day for five days each week.
For more information about the state Pre-K program at ASU, contact the Early Learning Center at 430-2792.