Early Education in the Lehigh Valley
Local Education and Resource Network (LEARN)
Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) recently changed the name and focus of the Community Engagement Group to Local Education and Resource Network (LEARN). As in previous years, the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley was awarded this grant for Lehigh and Northampton Counties but this year subcontracted a large part of the work to the Children’s Coalition of the Lehigh Valley.
The purpose of LEARN is to build support networks in every county for organizations and individuals interested in quality early education. It does so by bringing together early childhood programs, families, school districts and child-serving organizations to assess what quality early learning programs are currently available in the community and to develop ways to encourage quality early learning. They also work with school districts and community-based early learning programs to develop ways to make smooth transition from preschool to kindergarten or from home to kindergarten for child, families, and teachers.
Similar to past years, OCDEL continues to require a steering committee which they refer to as the LEARN Team. This team will act as a local, grassroots connection between families and the resources available on the importance of quality early learning. Team members will be asked to tap into their networks to help achieve the purpose of LEARN and to attend, at minimum, quarterly meetings scheduled from 8:30 am to 10 am at:
United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley
1110 American Parkway Northeast, Allentown, PA 18109
Thursday, June 14
We will also be forming two subcommittees: family engagement and transitioning into child care or kindergarten that you may choose to participate in, which will also meet on a quarterly basis. If interested in being part of the LEARN Team, Family Engagement Subcommittee, or Transitioning into Child Care or Kindergarten Subcommittee, please contact:
Jan Schwartz
LEARN Coordinator
Children’s Coalition of the Lehigh Valley
jmschwartz@rcn.com