BOISE, Idaho – The Boise School District’s new Lincoln Early Learning Center helps children ages three to five get a good start through early education and support services.
- The center focuses on the holistic development of children and offers programs for both general education students and students with special needs.
- Families also benefit from resources such as a lending library and connections to community services, ensuring comprehensive support beyond the classroom.
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(The following is a transcript of the entire broadcast.)
“I especially enjoy watching the growth from day one to the end of the year,” says Cathy Burrus, center supervisor at Head Start.
Burrus is the director of the Head Start program at Lincoln Early Learning Center. She has seen firsthand the benefits of early education programs since her children first began participating in them 25 years ago.
“That’s been gone their whole life. I see that to this day, they’re great adults in the community,” Burrus says.
At the Boise School District’s new Lincoln Early Learning Center, children ages three to five can’t wait to start learning.
“It’s about the whole child – preparing them socially and academically,” says Lisa Ramey Hernandez, administrator at Lincoln Early Learning Center.
The center also offers special educational programs and resources for low-income families. The classroom environment teaches independence through activities such as handwashing and family-style meals, as well as social and educational experiences such as group games, learning to trace shapes, and writing one’s name.
“Research has actually shown that this inclusion and early intervention really benefits a child, not just students with learning disabilities, but also those without disabilities,” says Ramey Hernandez.
Studies show that the number of books a child has access to at home is one of the most important indicators of a child’s success in school and beyond, which is why the center also offers outside support such as a lending library and places an emphasis on introducing young children to books from an early age.
“Being able to answer questions, point to pictures in a book,” says Ramey Hernandez.
And beyond classes, families like Cathy’s “can get connected with doctors, get connected with the community resources that are out there — housing, rent assistance, gas assistance, groceries — we provide them with all of those resources. I’ve watched the growth when I’ve been part of community classes, and it’s been incredible. It’s been absolutely incredible. I just love it,” Burrus says.
