April 26, 2000

BIRMINGHAM, AL — The UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) School of Education has received a three-year, $300,000 grant for a new project that could someday help at-risk children in Birmingham improve their language skills.

The grant, awarded by Charles A. Collat and the Mayer Electric Supply Foundation Inc., will support the Ready to Learn in School Preschool Preparation Project. UAB Professor Jerry Aldridge, Ed.D., is the project’s director. Aldridge is a nationally renowned scholar who has conducted extensive research on early literacy. Collat is chairman and CEO of Mayer Electric Supply Inc.

Of the millions of children entering kindergarten each year, one-third are not prepared for school, according to kindergarten teachers polled in a 1996 Carnegie Corp. study. And statistics gathered by the Children’s Defense Fund show that by the time most low-income children enter first grade they’re generally read to less often, have smaller vocabularies, and have fewer children’s books in their homes than other children.

“Because learning patterns are generally established by the time children begin their formal education,” Aldridge said, “it’s important that we start early to assist preschool children who are at risk of failing in reading and other language skills. If we don’t reach children by end of first grade, they’re more likely to fail. Therefore, we want to keep children from falling through the cracks because prevention programs are generally more successful than remedial programs.”

Researchers with the Ready to Learn project will conduct assessments and administer early reading ability tests to children attending Birmingham area preschools, both public and private, Headstart programs and even to children who are not attending preschool.

Data collected from the tests will be used to identify children with poor language skills. Researchers also will assess the availability and quality of early childhood education programs in the Birmingham area. “In addition,” Aldridge said, “we will interview preschool teachers to see what skills they believe children need for kindergarten, and we’ll interview kindergarten teachers and parents to determine which skills they expect children to have. We can then use this information to identify disparities and create better preschool programs that will help children make the transition from preschool and kindergarten to grade school.”

Project researchers will then assemble a blue ribbon panel of educators, business executives, health and social service professionals and civic leaders who will determine the kinds of services at-risk children need and create a model program to assist those preschoolers.

The Mayer Electric Supply Foundation Inc., founded in 1965, makes contributions to charitable, religious, and educational organizations.