Experience PreK through the Starkville Oktibbeha Early Learning Collaborative

PreK Registration for Sudduth and West Elementary will open January 30, 31 and February 1. Click for all the details.

Emerson Preschool PreK Graduation

PreK instruction in the Starkville Oktibbeha School District and ICS Head Start Oktibbeha County is provided through the Starkville Oktibbeha Early Learning Collaborative (SOELC) housed at the SOSD Discovery Center. SOELC currently offers 15 PreK classrooms at four locations – Emerson Family School, ICS Head Start-Oktibbeha County, Sudduth Elementary School, and West Elementary School.

For more information about the Starkville Oktibbeha Early Learning Collaborative you can call (662) 615-0033 or email Mary Coleman, SOELC Program Coordinator at mcoleman@starkvillesd.com.

WHY PreK?

“The quality of Mississippi’s Early Learning Collaborative program has made our state a national leader for early childhood education,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education for Mississippi. “Research consistently shows that high-quality early childhood education has a long-term impact on student achievement. Children who participate in high-quality pre-K programs achieve higher levels of school readiness, reading proficiency by third grade and higher graduation rates.”

SUCCESSES

  • The Starkville Oktibbeha Early Learning Collaborative (SOELC) has provided quality PreK opportunities for 4-year-olds since 2017.
  • For the 2022-23 school year, SOELC expanded from 7 to 15 classrooms across four sites: Emerson Family School, ICS Head Start-Oktibbeha County, Sudduth Elementary, and West Elementary. The program currently serves 300 children.