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EDUCATION
THURSDAY, JULY 12 -18, 2018 • Page 10
DeKalb school district debuts new Early Learning Academy
DCSD Superintendent Stephen Green (left) and Early Childhood Coordinator Zack Phillips (right) address
the media during a preview of DCSD’s new Early Learning Academy June 21 at the site of the former Terry
Mill Elementary. Photos by Derek Smith.
BY DEREK SMITH
derek@dekalbchamp.com
DeKalb County School District
(DCSD) officials June 21 debuted the
district’s first early childhood learning
center.
The Early Learning Academy
opened for registration June 22 and is
expected to host 200 3-year-old students
beginning in August. The academy is
the first public early childhood learning
center in DeKalb County. DCSD
Superintendent Stephen Green said the
academy will provide hands-on learning,
social and emotional development and
creative experiences that children need
as they grow.
Green led three similar academies
at his previous post heading Kansas
City Public Schools. He said the Early
Learning Academy will follow the same
model as those.
“We think the research is very clear
that the earlier you get started, if you do
it the right way, students have a greater
chance of success as they move through
the later years,” Green said.
The school is located on the site
of the former Terry Mill Elementary
School. DCSD early childhood
coordinator Zack Phillips said the
school will host a total of 400 students,
starting with 200 3-year-olds in year
one, then enrolling another 200 next
year. Students will spend two years at
the school before transitioning to their
neighborhood school.
Phillips said the children will
be exposed to science, technology,
engineering, math and coding, and in
their second year, to a foreign language.
“The return on investment will be
powerful,” Phillips said.
Phillips will serve as the academy’s
director. He said the building will house
14 classrooms and students will attend
class from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. with after
school programs also available. The
school will be free for all students and
slots are available on a first-come-first-
serve basis.
Green said the district will also offer
services at the school to support parents
facing economic and other challenges.
Partners such as Atlanta Food Bank,
YMCA and Big Brothers/Big Sisters
will have offices at the school to serve
families of the students, according
to DCSD Deputy Superintendent of
Student Support and Intervention
Vasanne Tinsley.
The state does not offer funding
for the academy, but the district has
budgeted $1.9 million for staffing and
materials.
“Our doors are open to grand
opportunity, and also to sponsors,”
Green said. “We may invite corporate
sponsors to help us-philanthropic
organizations that want to join and help
us expand this model.”
Green said the district may expand
with future early learning academies
at new sites, and they will use the
Georgia Pre-K Work Sampling System
Assessment Program to gauge the
success of the school.
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