Grant to help Bremen Public Schools, Culver Community Schools build early childhood learning centers

MARSHALL COUNTY, Ind. -- Leaders and educators in Marshall County say a new grant will help provide free, high-quality early childhood education to children who may not get it otherwise. 

Early Learning Indiana awarded the Marshall County Early Childhood Coalition a $110,000 grant this week. The money will help Bremen Public Schools and Culver Community Schools build early childhood learning centers.

County and school leaders say while there are a number of early education programs in the county, not everyone can afford them. In turn, officials say some children don’t receive early education so vital to their future success.

Dr. Jim White, the superintendent for Bremen Public Schools,  says for example, a chunk of their kindergartners don’t speak English, which makes learning hard. White says if there were a free, high-quality early childhood learning center, the kids could work on those language skills, easing the transition into school.

“If parents aren’t able to give those enrichment activities at home -- you know the parents are two working adults, they just simply don’t have the time to spend on that, they want to spend their family time doing other things -- that’s where the high quality daycare, early learning comes in,” said White. “Students and children are given those activities in a structured environment that’s preparing them for the rest of their academic careers.”

White says Bremen hopes to open their center by the start of the next school year. Families are eligible for free preschool if they are within 130 percent of the federal poverty line.