HAWTHORNE, CA – Parents, children, elected officials, and community partners counted down before officially cutting the ribbon on the new Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) Early Head Start Childcare Center on April 13.
The new facility opened in March and offers children ages 0-3 a high-quality education and wellness experience, fostering their growth and development. The ribbon-cutting was a celebration of a six-year journey to make the facility possible.
“The center represents our collaboration with the community and shared commitment to providing an exceptional learning experience to infants and toddlers,” said LAEP Interim CEO Dawn A. Kurtz. “It’s only fitting that as we conclude the Week of the Young Child, we deliver a critical resource to early learners and families.”
Kurtz welcomed the offices of Senator Steven Bradford, Assembly Member Tina McKinnor, and the Office for the Advancement of Early Care and Education (OAECE) to the event, which featured LAEP Board members and Early Childhood Education staff.
“LAEP and the opening of this Early Head Start Childcare Center play a significant role in advancing Early Childhood Education,” said Leanne Drogin, Deputy Director of OAECE. “There are not nearly enough spaces to serve our more than 300,000 infants and toddlers in Los Angeles County. This center will help to alleviate the county’s shortage of spaces and help to relieve the strained system of care in the county.”
The center is starting with a single class of eight children ages 2-3, but will expand to serve more young learners and families.
Following the program, attendees were able to tour the site, which features four refurbished bungalows equipped with offices and areas for children as well as an outdoor playground.
LAEP received an Early Head Start grant of nearly $3 million from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services in 2018, paving the way for the childcare center.
The site is leased from the Hawthorne School District and underwent updates from the Hoffman Management & Construction Corporation to prepare for young learners.