Executive Summary
In 1998, it was estimated that approximately 2,400 children participating in the Head Start program in metro Atlanta were enrolled in unlicensed facilities, many of which were in deplorable condition. Early Learning Property Management (ELPM) was incorporated in 1999 as a 501(c)3 to address these issues and be a force in upgrading the educational achievement, health standards and quality of life for young children.
ELPM’s mission is to build high quality early learning centers primarily in disadvantaged neighborhoods that provide high quality education and nurturing programs birth through five years old. Over the past 12 years ELPM has purchased, renovated or constructed 13 high quality early education centers located in Fulton, DeKalb, Greene, Gwinnett and Paulding counties, to serve young children, their families and communities in licensed and nationally accredited centers.
ELPM collaborates and works closely with funders, grantmakers and philanthropists who 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 ELPM’s services includes working with pre-qualified, proven non-profit early care providers to determine a location and layout of potential facilities, partnering with providers to implement a fund raising program and jointly raise the capital needed for each project, building and/or renovating facilities according to all applicable standards, and, when applicable, offering affordable long-term leases at below market rates. Each center is operated by experienced, high quality providers with proven, sustainable track records and steady income streams. 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 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 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 Tech 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.
ELPM centers also facilitate community collaboration with parents, local health care practitioners, local school systems, neighborhoods and community outreach programs. These centers bring a positive economic impact on the community at large by providing full time employment, childcare programs, health awareness and preventative screenings, and outreach programs such as job training, computer literacy, and English as a second language.
ELPM is not part of any state or national accreditation process. ELPM has a close working relationship with Smart Start Georgia (SSG); a partnership between the State of Georgia, Whitehead Foundation and United Way, to address early education facility needs for metro Atlanta.
While much work remains, ELPM celebrates the victory of enabling these young children to have an opportunity to receive the educational nurturing needed to be successful in their educational journey and become flourishing, productive adults.
To find out more about Smart Start Georgia, please visit their website at www.smartstartga.org or United Way at www.unitedwayatl.org.
