SAVANNAH, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon announced Friday a $1 million investment through Missouri Start Smart to expand access to quality early childhood education opportunities in Savannah.
According to a news release from Gov. Nixon’s office, the investment will ensure that more Missouri children start kindergarten ready to succeed in school and beyond.
“The first five years of a child’s development have an impact that lasts a lifetime,” Gov. Nixon said. “That’s why our Start Smart initiative is helping to make preschool more affordable and accessible throughout the state, including this $1 million investment here in Savannah.”
The Governor announced that, through the Missouri Start Smart initiative, the Missouri Department of Economic Development will authorize a $1 million Community Development Block Grant to the City of Savannah on behalf of the Savannah R-III School District to expand and improve its early childhood education program. The district will use the funds to construct a new, 7,088 square foot Early Childhood Education Center, to provide 80 child care slots to local families. The new center will be staffed by professional educators, and will also serve as a teaching accreditation location for education majors at Missouri Western State University and North Central Missouri College.
“We are honored that the Governor came to Savannah with this great news,” said Savannah Schools Superintendent David Brax. “We are extremely pleased to receive a Start Smart grant to build a preschool targeting low to moderate income students. The students of Savannah R-III will greatly benefit from their preschool experiences.”
To date, $23.1 million in Missouri Start Smart grants has been awarded for 24 projects across the state, which will serve up to 2,325 preschool age children.
Most recently, the Fiscal Year 2017 budget signed by the Governor includes his recommendation to fund early childhood education through Missouri’s school foundation formula, which will provide more than 2,500 children with access to high quality preschool.