Effingham Preschool for All Initiative Begins

More than at any time in the nation's history, education expectations are at their highest. The knowledge a kindergarten student needs in order to get off to a good start in school is essential to their continued success.

Some area youngsters are in danger of falling behind even as their education begins. There are youngsters whose families don't qualify for CEFS Head Start, yet their parents don't have the means to pay for preschool.

To address this need, a group known as Effingham Preschool for All is establishing the Effingham Scholarship Preschool Program. The goal of the program is to provide the opportunity for children ages 3 to 5 to attend a preschool in Effingham, so that every child in the Unit 40 School District will have at least one year of preschool experience.

The program's goal this first year is to find sponsors for at least 20 children ages 3 to 5 so they can attend preschool. This is a pilot program with the intent to solicit more funding in future years to make sure preschool is available to all children whose families demonstrate a financial need, but do not qualify for CEFS Head Start.

Transportation has been addressed, as Effingham County Public Transportation will transport the children to and from the private preschools in Effingham provided there is an aide on the bus. The cost will be one dollar each way.

For more information on the program, or how you could sponsor a child, please contact Janette at 217-240-4039 today to start this fall.