01/24/25
St. Louis Pre-K Cooperative Extends Support to North County Centers
The St. Louis Pre-K Cooperative is driving transformative change in early childhood education, providing critical support to pre-K centers across the region. Led by Dr. Samantha March, the Cooperative is responding to increased demand and calling for new partners in St. Louis County, collaborating with childcare providers to ensure children are ready for kindergarten.
The call for new partners is to expand the impact to the county. It’s really significant because a lot of the county childcare centers have been saying, ‘We want resources, we want help.’
Dr. Samantha March, Associate Partner
The expansion into North County isn’t just about adding more seats. The Cooperative addresses a long-term need for high-quality early education, particularly in underserved areas, to ensure students are prepared to enter kindergarten and thrive.
“We want all providers, no matter what region they are in, to send their kids to schools prepared with the basics they need to learn and grow at the next level,” said Dr. March.
The Cooperative’s work creates a ripple effect, helping children across the region enter kindergarten ready, which research shows is the key to ensuring students can build on their academic success each year in school. As the Cooperative welcomes new partners, its long-term vision remains focused on building a stronger educational foundation for the entire community.
Through funding, professional development, and educator coaching, the Cooperative is empowering teachers and improving instructional programming through the play-based Apple Tree curriculum.
“Our teachers are more relaxed, and our kids are benefiting from a stronger learning environment,” noted Ta’Lisha Franklin, Cornerstone Center for Early Learning’s Center Director.
“They’re so knowledgeable about what is developmentally appropriate,” said Sally Brown, Education Specialist at Flance Early Learning Center. “Even though they might be in tune with one curriculum, they really embraced and looked at what we do and what we use.”
The STL Pre-K Cooperative has helped eleven centers achieve Missouri accreditation, a milestone that reflects the tangible impact of the program.
Those eleven centers are:
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A New Generation Childcare
- Baden Christian Child Care Center, Inc
- Good Shepherd Infant and Toddler Center
- Little Explorers Learning Center LLC
- Little Precious Angels Childcare 2 LLC
- Little Warriors Academy LLC
- Magical Minds Childcare II LLC
- Mess Pat’s Daycare
- Myles Ahead Child Care & Learning Center, LLC
- Playtime Academy Children Development Center
The Baden Christian Childcare Center took advantage of the accreditation support, receiving $7,500 through the Cooperative.
“I would encourage other providers to get in on this program. The funding helped with accreditation, and it was great to have that not come out of our existing budget. There’s also free staff training, which is different from your standard training and curriculum,” said Lisa Scheer, Executive Director of the Baden Christian Child Care Center.
“We’ve accomplished a lot,” Dr. March added. “But we’re just getting started. The need for high-quality early education is greater than ever, and we’re here to meet that need.”
Across the St. Louis region, studies have shown that there is a lack of quality preschool options for families. With over 40 sites serving more than 1,000 students, the St. Louis Pre-K Cooperative is laying the groundwork for a brighter future for St. Louis’ youngest learners. Non-profit, for-profit, center-based, and family childcare, as well as elementary school Pre-K providers serving children aged 3-5 are invited to apply for the St. Louis Pre-K Cooperative network. For more information, please visit https://www.stlprekcooperative.org.
Learn more: SB727: A Lifeline For Our Youngest Learners and Our Community’s Future