Baton Rouge, Louisiana – A collaborative effort between a non-profit and the local government seeks to prepare more young children for kindergarten in East Baton Rouge Parish, irrespective of their family’s financial situation.
Currently, approximately 30,000 children under five years old reside in East Baton Rouge Parish (EBR), with only 30% reaching kindergarten at the expected academic level. Dr. Lee Griffin, Executive Director of LaForce, a non-profit organization, sees early childhood education as a key to improving these statistics.
“High-quality early education can reduce the need for special education referrals, decrease grade retentions, lower involvement in the criminal justice system, and increase the chances of high school graduation,” Dr. Griffin stated.
In line with this belief, LaForce is teaming up with the East Baton Rouge City-Parish government for the Head Start Restart Initiative. This initiative will see LaForce manage three Head Start centers across the parish, expanding services to include before and after school care and serving an additional 280 children.
“The goal is to make quality early education accessible to every family, regardless of their income or situation,” said Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome.
At present, less than 20% of families in the area are eligible for Head Start services. However, Vernadine Marby, Director of Human Development and Services in Baton Rouge, believes the partnership will extend support to more families who find childcare costs prohibitive.
“There are 55% more families who work daily and don’t qualify for these services,” Marby noted. “This partnership will help us reach them, allowing us to serve not just Head Start families but also working families who need affordable childcare.”
The initiative also includes a salary increase for teachers and case managers, starting at $48,000, which is expected to attract and retain qualified educators. “We aim to place children in high-quality early childhood programs from infancy, ensuring they are ready for kindergarten when they enter our school system,” Dr. Griffin added.
The Head Start Restart Initiative will proceed once it receives approval and funding from federal agencies.