Lewis Cass, Ivy Tech form 'childhood' bond

Sep. 3—GALVESTON — The nation has been facing a child care crisis since long before the pandemic hit. But since then, the number of centers where parents could leave their young ones in the care of others has dwindled.

Meanwhile, the number of parents — mostly single mothers — who need to rely on such facilities continues to increase. According to the latest statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Cass County has an infant and toddler population of around 1,020.

Yet, like other areas throughout the country, many families have a difficult choice: stay home or pay exorbitant fees for child care.

With a median income of approximately $60,000, many Cass County families don't have the option to fork out $12,612 per year in child care expenses. Based upon the Economic Policy Institute's October 2020 report, Indiana residents pay an estimated $1,051 per month for these services — that equates to $3,570 more for infant care than in-state college tuition on an annual basis.

Recognizing that many families fall between a rock and hard place, Lewis Cass Schools and Ivy Tech Community College implemented a plan to target the "child care desert" in northern Howard County and southern Cass County, said Ethan Heicher, vice chancellor of academic affairs with Ivy Tech. "As a college, we want to meet the needs of the community through the education side."

So the partnership for Lewis Cass's Early Learning Academy works to provide quality education for the 6-week-old babies to the 12-year-olds. The program also aims to make care and learning affordable. Costs range depending on age and the number of days attending. For example, a four-year-old attending five days a week could cost approximately $125 weekly, while an infant on site for the same amount of time may run $175 per week.

That means the highest cost could equate to $700 per month, which is well below the state average.

But the lower cost doesn't mean any aspects are being skimped on, assured Angela Johnson, director of the Early Learning Academy, which is housed in the former Galveston Elementary on Maple Street. The facility is in the same building as the Lewis Cass Polytechnic Academy.

"We are an early learning facility. Children are taught basic skills that will provide a jump-start on their formal education," said Johnson, explaining that even though the name "Lewis Cass" is attached to the academy, the child care center is actually not part of the school corporation.

The 68 children receive age-appropriate education, ranging from beginner courses in recognition and cognitive development to math, English and social skills.

The facility has the ability to host 140 children, but due to the lack of qualified child care workers, there are not enough staff members yet — and that's why this partnership between the two entities is set up to succeed.

Early Learning Academy

This joint effort is the first of its kind in Indiana, said Heicher. "And this effort speaks to the early child care needs in our area."

Plus, studies show that students who begin education sooner in life advance better through the school system, said Lewis Cass Superintendent Dr. Tim Garland, adding that students are now faced with the "COVID slide," where testing scores have dropped and overall learning has diminished due to the pandemic.

"It's hard to catch up once you fall behind," said Heicher.

"And when a child begins an education program early in life, it sets that child forward for lifelong learning," said Ivy Tech's Early Childhood Education Program Chair Penny Zellers.

"Which is why we're providing that high-quality education and why we need high-quality individuals," said Johnson, explaining that at least four additional staff members are required in order to boost enrollment.

But that's all part of the plan.

Ivy Tech Community College

In a way, the program is set up to feed into the Lewis Cass Schools Corporation.

The early childhood pathway allows high-school students to take courses as dual enrollment — they receive high school credit while also accruing college credit. Currently, there are 24 high schoolers attending the first-year program taught by Zellers. There are an additional 40 at the college level.

On Tuesday and Thursday, the students take part in classroom instruction, where they complete class work, activities and training. They're taught a range of programmatic courses as well as general education studies. Monday, Wednesday and Friday are hands-on days. Students interact with the child care youngsters putting classroom work to real-life practice.

Once they complete the three-year program, students will have obtained credit hours for their high school diplomas, but they also will graduate with a technical certificate in early childhood education. This puts them ahead of other students in the field, propelling them toward an associate degree, which could be earned at Ivy Tech. They eventually could earn Child Development Associate credentials.

"We want to meet students where they're at," said Heicher. "If we can connect with them early, and if they can work through the pathway ... and (earn) credentials at the high-school level, then we can build on that."

Plus, the students could land a job working at the Early Learning Academy, said Dr. Garland.

Connecting

It really is the best of both worlds, said Johnson.

Not only are freshmen through seniors being trained in a field that desperately needs workers, but the program is fulfilling a void. It also has established a flexible schedule that could benefit parents, Johnson said. If a parent would prefer to send his or her child for half a day, once a week, that could be arranged. On the flip side, if a child attends the full schedule available, from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, that works as well.

For parents who have transportation issues, Dr. Garland said there are busing options. Drivers could be sent to pick up children and drop them off at the end of the day. There could even be a designated site at the high school in Walton for children to be bused back and forth. Parents would be required to pick up their youngsters, but if a family resides at Grissom Air Reserve Base, at least they wouldn't have to drive as far.

Johnson said that all lead care givers have at least an associate degree in child development. Some employees have higher degrees. The assistants must have a high school diploma.

The goal is to help each of the current 24 students — and all future participants — earn a college degree in early childhood education so they could become part of a field that desperately needs qualified employees.

Mallory Claypool, academy director, said that the program could span into surrounding schools. Early Childhood Education programs could bring in additional students from Maconaquah and Northwestern, he said, adding that he hopes students from Western would be interested in the program as well.

The academy is licensed by the state and is in the process of obtaining the National Association for the Education of Young Children accreditation. Ivy Tech's program already qualifies.

For further information, contact the academy at 401 S. Maple St., Galveston, or call 574-626-3001.

Reach Kristi Hileman at kristi.hileman@pharostribune.com or 574-732-5150