The Warren Sun

The Richmond, Michigan, Community Schools school board learned Dec. 12 that the early childhood learning center has grown to 122 students since 2018.

“There's a lot of reportable standards that our preschool teachers are responsible for each year,” Director of Early Childhood and Childcare, Heidi Mangune, said during a board meeting. “It goes right into our system and like I say, it can be used for parent communication, it can be used for our kindergarten team to see where our students are at the beginning of the year instead of waiting for a few weeks after NWEA, things like that.”

The early childhood learning center has programs for 3-year-olds, and 4-year-olds, as well as a Great Start to Readiness Program (GRSP), according to a video recording of the meeting posted on the school board’s YouTube page. All three programs have grown in enrollment over the past few years.

The school is incorporating a new curriculum based on literacy fundamentals that continues all the way through high school. Teachers will receive training on the curriculum in December and January to implement this program throughout the district, according to the video.

The early childhood center is also looking to purchase child-accessible computers. Students will be able to log in under their picture and the software will assist in individual learning for each student, according to the video. Representatives from the early childhood learning center said the computers would also enhance technological and fine motor skills.