Although public school is free, state-funded, significant resource, many people don’t consider the importance of preparation for crucial levels of education like elementary school. Preschool is a large, non-state funded expense for some families that many take for granted. Kirkwood Area Every Child Promise (KAEChP) is a nonprofit organization in Kirkwood. Their mission is to make resources like preschool high quality, adequately funded and readily available.
Rickey Boyher serves as the Program Coordinator for KAEChP. She said as a former kindergarten teacher, she knows first-hand how important preparation for success is.
“We provide full-time and part-time preschool scholarships for Kirkwood’s youngest learners,” Boyher said. “Our scholarship program addresses these needs by helping underserved families afford opportunities that prepare them for success for their entire educational career and beyond.”
KAEChP wants to ensure that every child in the KSD has a quality preschool experience. Boyher said preschool is an important step in learning because kids who begin elementary school behind their classmates are more likely to remain behind them for the rest of their educational career.
“An opportunity gap occurs when certain groups of people receive inequitable opportunities based on socioeconomic status, race, or ethnicity, among other things,” Boher said. “Without financial assistance, a large number of families must opt out of preschool for their children. The data shows that these children are at a significant disadvantage, often for the rest of their lives, compared to their peers who attended preschool.”
KAEChP provides care to families living within the KSD boundaries who need support with the cost of quality preschool. They want to eliminate the education gap that grows from poor standard education. Boyher said the main way to support KAEChP is to donate for the scholarships families receive. She said almost all contributions go towards them.
“Charities are important because they serve to help people by providing them with resources and opportunities they need and deserve, but would otherwise not have,” Boyher said. “[They] can help strengthen communities in many ways, including providing specific [services], boosting the economy, and improving the lives of others overall.”
