pre-k

The Building Strong Brains coalition, part of the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, focuses on ensuring that every child enters elementary school ready to succeed.

The Our Strong Start program hopes to connect potential entrepreneurs with advisors who can help them with issues like licensing or finding a space.

High quality pre-K in Indiana is in short supply. It's estimated nearly two-thirds of children across the state don't have access to it. Part of the problem is a lack of qualified caregivers and some providers worry Indiana's near-total abortion ban will exacerbate the problem.

Despite objections from parents, the Elkhart Community Schools board voted 5 to 2 Tuesday night to close Hawthorne Elementary School and repurpose the building into a pre-K and community hub.

This round of grants comes from federal COVID relief funds and totals $365 million. Another $365 million was awarded in the fall, to more than 5,800 providers.

Lawmakers renewed efforts this session to improve early learning opportunities across Indiana, approving changes to focus and grow the mission of the state's Early Learning Advisory Committee.

Elkhart Community Schools officials presented a redistricting plan Tuesday that would take effect if the school board votes to close Hawthorne Elementary School.

Late last month, Elkhart Community Schools Superintendent Steve Thalheimer unveiled plans to close Hawthorne Elementary School and repurpose it into a pre-K and community hub.

At the Elkhart Community Schools Board’s public work session Tuesday, Superintendent Steve Thalheimer presented plans to repurpose Hawthorne Elementary School as a pre-K learning hub.

No county in Indiana adequately meets residents' needs for high-quality child care according to a report published by Early Learning Indiana this year.…