All they wanted to do was dig in the dirt. As staff members, families and supporters of Early Learning Community Preschool gathered to celebrate a milestone announcement, students of the school were far more interested in using the little toy shovels to work the ground where a new school building would stand. Their enthusiasm was warranted — after all, this groundbreaking was a huge step forward for early childhood education in Johnson County. “So with this expansion, we’re excited to create a warm and welcoming safe place that truly reflects the heart of our school family, where our children can be seen and heard and celebrated,” said Dawn Underwood, director of Early Learning Community. The expansion will allow the school to double the number of students it serves, from about 40 currently to 80 to 100 in the future. Having a building to call their own has been extraordinary, but the need for early childhood education is still great. That’s why school leadership pursued the expansion. In November 2023, Early Learning Community leaders applied for funding through Indiana’s Child Care Expansion Grant program, offered through the Family and Social Service Administration’s Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning. Out of about 300 applicants, the preschool was one of 24 chosen to receive a grant — totaling $620,000. Kids and their parents migrated to the school’s playground, where a foam machine had turned the grassy area into a sudsy wonderland. In between playing, they could enjoy root beer floats. At an exciting time for Early Learning Community Preschool, it was an ideal way to celebrate. “In the spirit of all things we do here: We will play!” Hogan said. Read the full article here.

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