Do you know about the many programs that The Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education (ADECE) provides to help parents with preschool readiness? They have many and here are just a few specifically for preschool aged children. Studies indicate, children who attend high-quality pre-kindergarten programs are more likely to succeed in school and beyond.
Alabama First Class Pre-K
Alabama First Class Pre-K is setting a gold standard in early childhood education, garnering national recognition for its commitment to quality. Designed for 4-year-olds, this state-funded initiative aims to lay a strong foundation for lifelong learning, focusing on comprehensive child development. With its low student-to-teacher ratios, the program ensures personalized attention and effective instruction, cultivating academic achievement, emotional regulation, and social skills.
Enrollment is a straightforward process that starts with an online application through the ADECE. To be eligible, your child must turn 4 by September 1st of the academic year for which you are applying. While the program is state-funded and typically free, some sites may charge additional fees for extended day services or meals. Due to high demand, many programs utilize a lottery system for admissions, so it’s advisable to apply as early as possible.
Born Ready
Born Ready, an initiative from the ADECE focuses on educating parents about the importance of early brain development and early care and education. Born Ready is designed to empower parents by giving them access to the tools they need to be their children’s first and best teacher.
Help Me Grow Alabama
Help Me Grow (HMG) connects families to health and developmental resources so children (birth to age eight) can start school healthy and ready to succeed. HMG provides a free, confidential, telephone access linking every family in Alabama to a care coordinator to answer questions and respond to concerns about their child’s development, connect them with services in their community, and follow up to ensure a connection is made.
Reach Out and Read
Reach Out and Read begins at birth and continues through age four, with a special emphasis on children growing up in communities where families earn lower incomes. Reach Out and Read integrates reading aloud into pediatric care, providing books and coaching that help families make reading a part of their daily routine.
Providers are trained to incorporate giving an age-appropriate, culturally-sensitive, new book to the child during well-child visits. The provider then reads the book aloud to the child helping parents understand the importance of language and development skills and gives a prescription for reading aloud. Children ages 0-4 will receive two brand new books per year during well-child visits. This also encourages them to be seen by physicians on a regular basis.
Reach Out and Read has provided more than 1.8 million new books to vulnerable children in Alabama through over 400 prescribing medical providers in 59 practices and clinics.
The ADECE, a state agency, primary responsibility is providing Alabama children high-quality care and education. The ADECE employs approximately 250 people and utilizes federal and state funds for the administration of its programs.
The Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education operates many other programs that provide support and education to children and families, including the Alabama Pre-K-3rd Grade Integrated Approach to Early Learning (P-3), First Teacher Home Visiting, and the Children’s Policy Councils. The Children First Trust Fund is also administered by the Department.
To learn more and access parenting resources visit children.alabama.gov.
