BRI recognizes that early childhood education (ECE) for children from birth through 5 is absolutely critical. Without a strong ECE, too many children are coming to kindergarten with very weak language skills (both expressive and receptive vocabulary and phonological awareness skills), a poor understanding of print concepts, and little or no knowledge of the alphabet.
Through Mississippi Building Blocks (MBB), BRI is working closely with other organizations around the state to enhance ECE at private centers.
The focus of MBB's work is professional development of staff at the centers, provision of books and other materials, provision of business advice to center directors, strengthening of parent relationships, and regular, on-going assessment of the centers and the children who attend the centers.
BRI and MBB hope to produce solid, replicable data to support public funding of ECE in Mississippi within the next 3 to 4 years.