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District and partners use final L4GA grant year to equip daycares with books, furniture and staff training
Summary
In the grant's final year, Burke County's early-childhood team distributed books and literacy materials to local daycares, provided furniture and carpets, and ran evening training sessions for daycare staff to strengthen early literacy. Presenters said the work targeted children who will enter district schools and emphasized birth-to-five impact.
District staff and community partners described a literacy and daycare-support effort funded by the last year of a L4GA grant that delivered books, furnishings and staff training to local childcare centers.
A district presenter summarized the project: daycares received book boxes, new carpets and reading nooks, science and activity centers and other items requested on wish lists the centers submitted. “We started to work with our day cares as well... they realized, wait a minute. We have to unpack these boxes,” the presenter said, describing how staff helped centers set up the new materials.
The program also funded trainer-led professional development sessions. Trainer Bobby Lee, introduced during the presentation, told attendees the early years are critical: “Research tells us that children start their their career, their first 6 weeks in life in an early childhood program. They spend up to 55 waking hours a week in that program, and they spend up to 10 waking hours a week with parents,” Lee said, explaining the rationale for intensive early-childhood support and training.
The district provided training sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for about six weeks, with small meals provided and local staff participating. Daycare providers in the room praised the material support and training; one provider described the deliveries as “like Christmas” and said new furniture and materials made the centers feel different for children.
District staff named several participating centers, including Marie's, Cozy Kids, Child's World, First Steps Learning Center, First United Methodist and First Baptist, and credited staff members who helped organize distribution and training.
What’s next: The district team will continue literacy supports and professional development for early-childhood providers and said the materials and training will be used to better prepare children entering Burke County schools.
