A south DeKalb County early learning center is celebrating the opening of its second location on Friday, prompted by demand seen in the area for educational opportunities for younger children.
Scottdale Early Learning at Midway Woods, 2939 Midway Road in Decatur, opened in January for classes. The nonprofit early care and educational outlet has been serving metro Atlanta children more than 40 years through one location, officials said.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony, which begins at 10 a.m., will include DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson and several of the organization’s board members. Other area education leaders also have been invited.
Early learning has shown lasting benefits that translated to better academic achievement and later success. Experts have said children learn more before they turn 5 than they do through the entire K-12 experience.
According to the National Institute for Early Education Research’s (NIEER) The State of Head Start report, 3- and 4-year-old participants have decreased since 2007 in Head Start programs, where eligibility is based on the federal poverty level, with some exceptions. Enrollment of children under 3, however, more than doubled in the same time period.
NIEER's The State of Preschool 2017 suggests states are investing more than ever in preschool, but per-child spending fell in the last year of reporting. Few states offer programs for the majority of their 4-year-old residents, and at least four states served fewer of them in 2017 than in 2002, when NIEER began collecting data.
About the Author
