The Oxford Early Learning Collaborative has received more than $700,000 in Pre-K tax credit donations in 2024, the highest amount of any Early Learning Collaborative in Mississippi.

This funding, combined with the state’s Early Learning Collaborative grant, directly supports 235 students across 14 classrooms at Oxford Early Childhood Center, ensuring high-quality early education for the district’s youngest learners.

Since receiving its Early Learning Collaborative grant in 2019 from the Mississippi Department of Education, OECC has expanded access to early childhood education. The grant funds:

• Four Pre-K teachers
• Four teacher assistants
• An interventionist to provide targeted student support
• A librarian to promote early literacy
• A school readiness coordinator to ensure children are prepared for kindergarten
• EL (English Learner) tutors and translators to support multilingual students and families
• OECC Collaborative support team staff
• A parent liaison who supports English learning families

Beyond grant funding, Pre-K tax credit donations play a vital role in supporting classroom resources and enriching student experiences by providing:

• Free books for children to build home libraries
• Community field trips
• Caps and gowns for Pre-K graduation
• “Get Ready for Kindergarten” kits to support a smooth transition to BES
• $1,000 in classroom materials for each teacher
• Indoor Recess Space
• OECC Grocery Store where students can “shop”

These investments align with the mission of L.O.U. Reads, a coalition of local organizations and community leaders working to ensure that all children in the Lafayette-Oxford-University community read proficiently by the end of third grade. L.O.U. Reads focuses on four key areas: school readiness, out-of-school time opportunities, attendance, and targeted initiatives to promote grade-level reading.

Mississippi has been nationally recognized as one of the top five states for Pre-K quality by the National Institute for Early Education Research and OECC’s success demonstrates the power of community support in strengthening early education.

“We are incredibly grateful for our community partners and donors who recognize the importance of early childhood education,” said Superintendent Bradley Roberson. “This funding allows us to provide exceptional learning experiences, equip our teachers with the best resources, and ensure that our youngest learners are on the path to success.”

For more information about L.O.U. Reads, the Oxford Early Learning Collaborative, or how to support early childhood education in Oxford, visit www.loureads.org/.