Children’s earliest experiences – before they even enter school – can determine their ability to succeed for the rest of their lives. Early access to quality education is essential to promoting their development and learning into the future.
Early Childhood Education
According to the First Five Years Fund, there are many benefits to investing in early childhood education. Some of these benefits include:
- Early childhood education reduced the percentage of children repeating a grade by 15%.
- Early childhood education lowered the rate of special education placement by 10%.
- The positive effects of early childhood interventions are evident even 30 years in the future.
- Increased cognitive skills, high school achievement and performance, earnings capacity, and more!
Education Programs We Support
Chattanooga Early Learning Scholarship (CELS)
As of July 1, 2021, the Chattanooga Early Learning Scholarship program no longer accepts new applications. Current recipients that reside in the Chattanooga city limits will continue to receive assistance until they are eligible for kindergarten. Please forward any questions to scholarship@uwchatt.org.
For available child care resources, please click here.
Early Matters
Early Matters, a working group of Chattanooga 2.0, is a coalition made up of over 20 diverse organizations invested in early childhood, positively impacting the systems that ensure happy and healthy childhoods in Chattanooga-Hamilton County, TN.
Working together, these organizations promote equitable access to early childhood programs and services through systems building and advocacy efforts. More information can be found here.
It takes connected community
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We partner with local agencies focused on empowering every individual to achieve their full potential where it matters most: where we live.