ATLANTA – State Representative Ron Stephens (R-Savannah) celebrated the 21st Anniversary of Georgia’s Pre-K program this week by visiting The Children’s Village at the Crossroad as part of “Georgia Pre-K Week.” During his visit, Rep. Stephens read to a group of 4-year-old pre-kindergarten students and saw firsthand the learning that happens each day thanks to Georgia’s Pre-K Program.
“This is such a great experience that I look forward to year after year,” said Rep. Stephens. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time at The Children’s Village at the Crossroad and was happy to see Georgia’s Pre-K program at work.”
Rep. Stephens visited The Children’s Village at the Crossroad from approximately 9:00 – 10:00 AM on Monday, September 30. The school is located at 2641 Highway 17, Richmond Hill, Georgia, 31324. While there, Rep. Stephens participated in learning activities with the children, toured the facility, talked with the staff, and got an up-close look at the many ways that the center is supporting early learning.
From September 30 through October 4, Rep. Stephens will be one of nearly 150 officials to visit some of the 3,800 Pre-K classrooms located in all 159 counties in Georgia for “Georgia Pre-K Week.” This week allows the state to bring attention to the tens of thousands of Georgia’s youngest children in recognition of the important work they do to prepare for school success. “Georgia Pre-K Week” also gives state leaders a unique opportunity to visit one of their local Pre-K classes to see the many ways Pre-K gets young children ready for school and on a path to reading proficiency by the third grade.
“Georgia’s Pre-K program is an exceptional program that can serve as a model for our country,” said Pat Willis, Executive Director of Voices for Georgia’s Children, a child advocacy organization. “About 84,000 four year olds in Georgia benefit from this remarkable program, a milestone in the critical phase of education that takes place from birth to age 8.”
“Georgia Pre-K Week” is sponsored by Voices for Georgia’s Children and several of its partner organizations, including Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy, Georgia Association for Young Children, Georgia Child Care Association, Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students, Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, The Junior League of Atlanta, and Quality Care for Children. Voices for Georgia’s Children is a nonprofit child policy and advocacy organization that envisions a Georgia where children are safe, healthy, educated, employable, and connected to their family and community.
Representative Ron Stephens represents the citizens of District 164, which includes portions of Bryan, Chatham, and Liberty Counties. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 1996, and is currently the Chairman of the Economic Development & Tourism Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations, Rules, and Ways & Means committees.
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