Petal Early Learning Collaborative
The Petal Early Learning Collaborative has two sites: CH Johnson Head Start and Petal Primary School. It has served 580 four-year-olds since its founding in 2014.
Number of Classrooms in ELC
4
Students Served in 2022-2023
80
Number of Sites in ELC
2
“This is one of the only ways to deal with the disparity we see between socioeconomic backgrounds in our state; we are bridging the learning gap before we even start in our formal K-12 setting!”
— Jana Perry, Director of the Coleman Center for Families and Children
Do you have a four-year-old
in the city of Petal?
Enroll them in the Petal Early Learning Collaborative.
Want to receive an individual
tax credit?
Learn how to get a tax credit and support the
Petal Early Learning Collaborative.
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About Early Learning Collaboratives
Early learning collaboratives (ELCs) are comprised of school districts, local Head Starts, child care centers, and/or private or parochial schools. Collaboratives offer a high-quality, low- or no-cost pre-K option to families in Mississippi. ELCs are funded through state funds and local matching funds and are overseen by the Mississippi Department of Education.
Learn more about how we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the ELCs.
We know that kids who attend high-quality pre-K:
Enter kindergarten with stronger literacy, language, math, and social-emotional skills
Are less likely to need special education services, less likely to repeat grades, and more likely to graduate and enroll in college
See stronger employment opportunities and increased earning potential
Are less likely to commit juvenile and adult crimes