By Karen Freeman, Enterprise-Journal www.enterprise-journal.com
McComb is continuing its efforts to become an Excel By 5 certified community, and progress is already evident.
Excel By 5 is a cooperative program between the McComb School District, the City of McComb and the community at large.
Carol Rawlings, Excel By 5 coalition chairman, reported to McComb school trustees last week on the various committees at work in the program that puts the focus on educating children from birth to age 5, making sure they’re ready to enter school when the time comes.
The school district is the lead agency in the Excel By 5 efforts in McComb, but it’s not a school program.
It’s community-based, with participation from business and civic organizations, parents, grandparents, ministers and interested citizens.
The goal is to have all children healthy and prepared for kindergarten and first grade.
Rawlings pointed to the town of Petal, which earned Excel By 5 certification in 2010.
Not only has the community seen economic advances, the school system is now a Star-rated district.
Most of the participating communities are concentrated in the north and south sections of the state, along with the Delta and in central Mississippi. McComb is the only city west of Petal and south of Jackson to take part in the program.
Excel By 5 participants are divided into four groups — community involvement, family and parent support, early care and education and health and safety. Each meets regularly throughout the year.
Rawlings pointed to 2010 census figures that show there are 1,396 children age 5 and under in McComb. According to the Pike County Health Department, there are 24 full-time licensed child care centers in the county, including Head Start centers. However, only 1,007 children, or 72 percent, are enrolled in pre-school care.
The other 389 children are with parents, grandparents and unlicensed providers. Many children reach first grade without ever being enrolled in a pre-school program.
Rawlings has reached out to all 24 licensed child care centers, and said only one has said no to participation because it requires an educational component for teachers or directors.
“That’s the beauty of it,” Rawlings said. “What better way to get the entire community involved.”
Rawlings said the cooperation with Head Start has been “working beautifully,” and it will help when everyone is on the same page in early childhood education.
Excel By 5 partners hope that early childhood emphasis is in place so that children entering school will be ready and on par with their peers.
“We hope we never have to play the catch-up game,” Rawlings said, referring to the many children who arrive at school far behind other classmates.
The program requires a site for a family resource center, and the McComb School District has a building near Kennedy Elementary School that will be used for the program.
A town hall meeting has been slated for Feb. 16. Other activities include a back-to-school bash and — a first for the community — a children’s health fair.
Any local citizen or organization that wants to participate may do so by volunteering to assist with events and activities, by spreading the word among community members or by helping financially.
To volunteer, call Rawlings at 249-0190 or McComb Excel By 5 certification manager Monique Gilmore at 684-4661.