The City of McComb has met the challenge and completed the requirements to earn the designation of “Certified Early Childhood Community”; McComb began the two-year process in August 2011 with McComb School District serving as the lead agency and other organizations such as, The City of McComb, The City of Summit, Southwest Regional Medical Center, local childcare centers, Headstart, and other community agencies and community members.
Excel By 5 is a community-based certification designed to improve a child’s overall well-being by age five. The program emphasizes the important roles communities play in educating their children during their most formative years–birth to five. Excel By 5 sets forth a variety of standards involving parent training, community participation, child care and health to help communities focus on supporting young children and their families. The certification process also identifies available resources and existing best practices to help Excel by 5 – Early Childhood Communities reach the goal that all of their children will be ready to learn when they start school at age five.