Early childhood assistance program planned

Mississippi State and a Memphis foundation are joining forces on a new program to identify and assist young Mississippi children whose failure in school is putting them at long-term risk

In partnership with The Day Foundation, the university is establishing the MSU Early Childhood Institute "to assist in the development of systems that promote sound early childhood education practices," President Malcolm Portera said in making the recent announcement.

The Day Foundation is a not-for-profit philanthropic organization established in 1960 to develop and encourage major initiatives to aid infants, children and young adults. It is initially providing $200,000 to support the institute's creation.

The institute will be housed in the College of Education's Department of Curriculum and Instruction. The department has been a leader in early childhood education initiatives since the late 1970s when faculty members Gloria Correro, James Turner and others assumed key roles in helping Mississippi incorporate kindergarten curricula into the public schools.

Also at the announcement program, education Dean William H. Graves said Cathy Grace of Tupelo will serve as the institute's coordinator. Her appointment is pending approval of the state Board of Trustees, Institutions of Higher Learning.

Grace is an author and longtime advocate for initiatives serving children and families. A former elementary schoolteacher and university faculty member, she has been serving as director of Lee County Families First and as a consultant in Tupelo for Lift/Head Start, Tupelo and Lee County public schools, and the CREATE Foundation.

"Dr. Grace has the leadership and experience to develop, influence and improve early childhood care and education policies and practices throughout Mississippi," Graves said.

The institute's three major goals include:

• Developing professional in-service leadership programs to help educators guide early childhood policies and practices at local and state levels;
• Improving the quality of care and education of children from pre-school through the third grade; and
• Helping Mississippi communities build partnerships with families and schools and supporting families as the child's first and most important teacher.

Institute services will be offered to all state school systems, Graves said.

Grace, a West Memphis, Ark., native, holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Arkansas, a master's from Arkansas State University and a doctorate from the University of Mississippi.