Acelero Learning Camden County Awarded American Recovery Act Funds for Early Head Start Expansion

CAMDEN, N.J., March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Acelero Learning Camden County was awarded American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) funds to expand their Early Head Start program.  The additional funds will allow the program to provide Early Head Start services to 60 additional infants and toddlers in Camden County. The funding will create 14 new jobs as the program hires teachers and other staff to provide these services.  In addition, the funding will allow the program to renovate a recently acquired building on Grand Avenue in Camden to serve as a second Early Head Start Center in the City of Camden.

"This additional funding is a dream come true for our program," said Victoria Ankrah, Acelero Learning Camden's Executive Director.  "We know there is such a demand for our services in Camden, now we will be able to open a brand new center, serve more children, and provide more jobs in our community."

"Acelero Learning Camden has an excellent reputation in the community for the services we provide. We're about real education," said Reverend Mark Merrill, a life-long resident of the City of Camden and the founding Board Chair of Acelero Learning Camden.  "Acelero's programs far exceed both community expectations and State requirements, making us an exceptional option for initializing the educational development of Camden's infants and families. The ability to expand our services coincides with our desire to assure that even more of Camden's children get an excellent start in their education."

These Recovery Act Funds will allow the program to serve 16 additional center-based children and 44 additional home-based children and completely renovate a new Early Head Start Center on Grand Avenue in Camden.  

"In these tough economic times, it is vital we find ways to create jobs while continuing to invest in our children's future," said Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee who helped author the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. "Head Start and Early Head Start are great success stories in American education. We want New Jersey's children to develop the skills they need to excel. Not only will these funds help create good jobs that will boost our economy, but they will ensure our kids get the necessary tools to reach their full potential."

"The Head Start and Early Head Start ARRA funding is not only helping us to expand our outreach services to thousands of children and families across the country, but it is also helping to stimulate local communities by providing new jobs and new resources to purchase local goods and services," commented Yvette Sanchez Fuentes, Director, Office of Head Start.

Acelero Learning Camden County has made continued improvement in the quality of the Early Head Start program in Camden since being named as the Early Head Start grantee.  These include dramatic increases in teacher pay, teacher qualifications, and number of children served.

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SOURCE Acelero Learning