With bright new classrooms in the Pre-K Academy and Center for Teaching Excellence, Midland College welcomed new students to the Pre-K Academy as well as those pursuing the college’s new Bachelor of Applied Science program in Early Childhood Education.
The 60,000 square-foot building on the MC campus that officially opened September 12 will increase capacity in the Pre-K Academy from 68 to 288 students, providing more opportunities for early childhood education in a community where only 36 percent of eligible children attend public preschool programs and 43 percent of students do not meet state standards for kindergarten readiness.
In addition to targeting the shortage of quality preschool seats, the Pre-K Academy and Center for Teaching Excellence addresses the lack of early childhood teachers in Midland. Having the preschool onsite facilitates training and internship possibilities as the degree program fosters a local pipeline for certified early childhood teachers.
The $30 million project was made possible by local funders including Scharbauer Foundation, Permian Strategic Partnership, Abell-Hanger Foundation, The Beal Foundation, The Henry Foundation, and many individual, family, and corporate donors.