ELPM
Study after study has shown that a strong focus on quality education for children under five has produced long term benefits, especially for at-risk children. Providing access to high quality facilities is a key ingredient for delivering successful, nurturing early childhood care. Since its inception in 1999, Early Learning Property Management (ELPM) has become a leader in addressing the lack of high quality early learning facilities, age birth to 5 years old, in Metro Atlanta. Over the past 10.5 years, ELPM has purchased, renovated or constructed 12 high quality early learning centers serving 13,000+ young children and their families in licensed, NAEYC accredited, or equivalent, facilities.
ELPM collaborates and works closely with funders, grantmakers and philanthropists whom share a common goal and commitment to address the issues facing early childhood learning. By coordinating and aligning resources through public and private partnerships, young children have access to quality, affordable early education critical for a successful educational journey. Through the support and commitment of dedicated funding partners, ELPM has successfully implemented its mission to address the issue of quality education facilities and make a difference in the lives of thousands of young children and their families.
The scope of ELPMs services include working with a pre-qualified non-profit provider, partnering to implement a fund raising program, building and/or renovating the facility according to all governing standards, and, when applicable, offering affordable long-term leases at below market rates. Under the leasing terms, ELPM will provide many of the on-going maintenance services, which allows the provider to concentrate its efforts on the development of the children rather than dealing with facility issues. When long term lease options are not applicable, ELPM offers a smooth transition of project ownership upon the purchase of the facility at construction completion.
ELPM centers also facilitate community collaboration with parents, local health care practitioners, local school systems, neighborhoods and community outreach programs. Additionally, these facilities have a positive economic impact on the community at large by providing full time employment, childcare programs, health awareness and outreach programs such as job training, computer literacy, and English as a second language.
ELPM is currently strategizing with potential partners to discuss additional high quality early learning centers in metro Atlanta and surrounding counties. As well, ELPM continues pursuing opportunities to link colleges with local high quality early learning centers to incorporate teaching labs into their early learning degree programs. Since completing the D. Scott Hudgens Early Learning Center, located on the Gwinnett Technical College Campus, ELPM continues conversations for partnership opportunities with other colleges offering early learning degree programs to potentially construct state of the art early education facilities on campus locations. These early learning centers are envisioned to integrate the college's teacher training program into the daily activities of the center giving the students a hands-on experience, much like the Gwinnett Technical College Center. With the Board of Regents approval of a four year degree program for teachers in the birth through four year old age group, this will allow the Gwinnett Technical College curriculum to articulate with colleges offering the 4 year degree program.
While much work remains, ELPM celebrates the victory of enabling these young children to have an opportunity to receive the educational nuturing needed to be successful in their educational journey and become flourishing, productive adults.
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Click here to download the ELPM quarterly newsletter.
For more information on ELPM please visit www.elpm.org or contact Kara Portnell at 404.634.4049 or kportnell@elpm.org.
For information about The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), including upcoming events and conferences, please visit: http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/naeyc/issues/2009-08-10.html
NAEYC's Right Choice for Kids website