Five thousand children in New Orleans will have access to free spots at early childhood education centers next school year — including 1,000 new seats funded by the property tax Orleans Parish voters approved last year.
Families who meet the income threshold can apply for a spot for their child, between the ages of six weeks and 4 years old, through the NOLA public schools website.
“While we know in K-12 every child is guaranteed a seat that is not always true in the early education space,” Jennifer Roberts, CEO of Agenda for Children, said at a news conference on Wednesday at the Preschool Learning Center on Hayne Boulevard.
“This year with the historic passage of the millage and new improvements to our enrollment processes ... We have made strides to ensure that thousands more children are going to be able to benefit from the strong start that early care and education can provide," Roberts said.
The additional seats through the new city tax will be combined with those already funded through local, state and federal dollars. Still, it won't be near enough.
About 21,700 children younger than 5 live in Orleans Parish, about a third of whom are considered to be living with families below the poverty line, according to five-year estimates from U.S. census data. Roberts said about 8,300 children in New Orleans qualify for the City Seats program.
More money, more spots
Last year, New Orleans voters approved a 20-year, 5-mill tax to fund an additional 1,000 seats for low-income children at early childhood learning centers in the City Seats program.
After Mayor LaToya Cantrell and other officials spoke at the news conference, teachers led a group of about 10 toddlers into the room, where they held signs that read "Thank you for believing in us" decorated with handprints.
Agenda for Children, the nonprofit that has played a role in coordinating publicly funded seats through the New Orleans Early Education Network since 2013, has overseen the additional spots.
Those seats may be matched by state funds, which would add an additional 1,000 spots. More spots may open up later in the year, pending additional funding streams.
The City Seats program had previously provided about 200 spots at New Orleans area early childhood centers for children younger than age 4.
“We know that the best start is in those seats,” Cantrell said, adding that the city is backing a universal home care visit program for new mothers.
Early childhood learning
NOLA Public Schools Superintendent Avis Williams said she attended a Head Start program as a child, a foundation she credits as a “catalyst” for her own career.
“I oftentimes say this is what Head Start looks like all grown up,” Williams said. ". . . It's so important that our babies have those opportunities.”
Research has shown early childhood education can have a broad range of benefits. Williams cited studies that found 82% of children who attend early childhood master foundational skills, like literacy and math, by age 11, and are less likely to have to repeat grades.
“Try being an eighth grade teacher or an algebra teacher and you're working with scholars who have not mastered basic literacy, or basic math skills," she said. "Early childhood education has been proven to improve those skills for our young people."
Roberts said that Louisiana has consistently ranked 48th of the states for childhood well-being but the improvements to early childhood education could move the needle and help families exit poverty.
Darniesha Bookman said her son has made strides in speaking and other developmental milestones since he started attending Head Start.
“I think it’s very important for children to have early education because it gives the parent the ability to work and go to school like myself,” Bookman said. “I’m able to be a college student while my son is safe and learning while I’m learning and making income for us."
How and when to apply?
Families can can select a program and submit documentation to verify residency and income levels and age of the student at enrollnolaps.com.
The enrollment team has been hosting workshops to help families apply and invited parents to get help at the three in-person centers – with expanded hours after today – or online and by phone.
The next workshops will be held Feb. 2 at 9 a.m. and Feb 7 at 12 p.m. via zoom. Interested people can sign up at enrollnolaps.com.
Jeff Adelson contributed reporting to this story.