Educare FlintEducare Flint, a new, state-of-the-art school for Flint children ages 0-5, opened its doors to students on December 4, 2017. Launched in the wake of the Flint water crisis as part of an urgent effort to increase access to early childhood education, the school serves 220 Flint children from birth to age 5 each year.
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation provided $11 million in grants to support construction of the 36,000-square-foot facility. The building is owned by Flint Kids Learn, a supporting organization of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. The Genesee Intermediate School District operates Educare Flint.
Other partners who helped launch, support or implement the Educare model in Flint include Flint Community Schools, Michigan State University, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and the University of Michigan-Flint.
Educare Flint is a wonderful example of the good that can be accomplished when partners from different sectors with different expertise come together to invest in a better tomorrow for our children. We are excited to see the difference this school will make for all children in Flint.
The school will play an important role in efforts underway to improve the quality and variety of early childhood education opportunities available to Flint kids-from cradle to college and career. It will also link students, their families and other residents with community-based services. And by offering professional development opportunities to all early learning and child care providers located in Flint, the school will help to strengthen the quality of early care throughout the community.
Enrollment is currently focused on children who live in Flint now and who also lived in the city during the period of potential lead exposure. Students' families must also meet income requirements related to the state and federal funding streams that support participation in the program. Enrollment is free for those who qualify.