City Schools Decatur Superintendent David Dude announced he’s creating a task force to to figure out “how to strengthen and expand” the College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center.
Dude said the ECLC isn’t in danger of closing, but the question is how to get it back to its original intent.
The ECLC’s first strategic plan from January 2004, called for closing the achievement gap between white and black students and to provide “equal opportunity to acquire a developmental structure prior to entering kindergarten.”
Dude said part of the task force’s charge is determining how many families can’t get into the program, either because they can’t afford it, or aren’t chosen from the lottery. The College Heights costs are $12,950 annually ($1100 per month) for children up to a year old and $11,750 annually ($1000 per month) for two-and three-year-olds.
The task force may also decide whether the ECLC should move into the mixed-use development planned by Columbia Ventures for East College Avenue.
The superintendent hopes to get the task force organized by early February.
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