ELCs in the News
The Story of Early Learning Collaboratives in Mississippi
10 Years of Early Learning Collaboratives
When Mississippi first passed the Early Learning Collaborative Act, we knew it would significantly impact early childhood education in Mississippi. A decade later, we have evidence to show why investing in high-quality, state-funded pre-K is the right move for making Mississippi first in education nationally.
2013
The Early Learning Collaborative Act established Mississippi’s state pre-K program, in which early learning collaboratives, or ELCs, offer high-quality pre-K.
2014
The Mississippi Department of Education identified the first 11 ELCs to receive state funding for pre-K.
2015
Mississippi First released the first State of Public Pre-K in Mississippi report.
2016
The Mississippi Legislature expanded the Early Learning Collaborative Act by appropriating an additional $1M for the program, for a total of $4M.
2017
Mississippi First published the second edition of the State of Pre-K in Mississippi report.
2018
The Legislature expanded the Early Learning Collaborative Act by appropriating an additional $2.5M for the program, for a total of $6.5M.
2019
Mississippi First published the Pre-K Briefing Book for candidates running for the legislature or statewide office in fall 2019.
2020
Mississippi First successfully advocated to raise the per-pupil funding rate for collaboratives from $2,150 to $2,500.
2021
The Legislature made its largest commitment to pre-K yet—$16M. Mississippi First published the third iteration of the State of Pre-K series as a set of small briefs.
2022
The Legislature increased pre-K funding to $24M. MDE announced the current list of 35 ELCs.