WHAT'S NEW

Oct 22, 2021

Affordable Child Care Scholarship Funds

Apply for an affordable child care fund through Oak Park Early Learning Academy's funded partnership with the United Way of Whitewater Valley.hild care and afterschool programs to financially strained families in Wayne County.

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Jun 19, 2020

Oak Park Early Learning Academy Receives $20,000 grant to “Come Back Stronger” from Pandemic

Richmond, IN (June 4, 2020) – Early Learning Indiana today awarded a $20,000 grant to Oak Park Early Learning Academy as part of the $15 million Come Back Stronger Fund, supported by Lilly Endowment, to reinforce Indiana’s supply of high-quality early learning opportunities, especially for the state’s most vulnerable children. Oak Park Early Learning Academy will use the grant funds to support safety-related expenses and challenges as it continues to serve families in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

“The health and safety of our children, families and staff is our top priority,” said Oak Park Early Learning Academy’s Director Megan Smith. “In order for our community to come back stronger from the pandemic, high-quality child care is extremely important, and we’re committed to supporting families who need child care by providing a safe and educational environment.”

Because of social distancing and safety protocols, Oak Park Early Learning Academy is investing in individualized learning supplies and activities for our children. Their program is also limiting class sizes to just 15 children. The grant from Early Learning Indiana and the Come Back Stronger Fund will help pay for those additional learning materials and create additional classrooms for children. Funding will also cover the staff member needed for taking temperatures at the door, transitioning children to/from classrooms and checking them in/out.

“The pandemic has shone a light on the critical role early care and education providers play in our society,” said Early Learning Indiana President and CEO Maureen Weber. “Families need quality child care in order to go back to work, and children need safe and engaging environments to grow and learn. We’re grateful to Oak Park Early Learning Academy’s commitment to providing high-quality child care, and we’re excited to see what they and the other 154 providers do with their Come Back Stronger Fund grants.”

Early Learning Indiana awarded a total of $2,341,000 to 155 providers in this first round of grant awards. Oak Park Early Learning Academy was required to submit a narrative on how it would use the grant funds and serve children from vulnerable populations, as well as meet the following criteria:

• Be a licensed and registered center, ministry or family child care home provider in Indiana in good standing

• Be an approved CCDF or On My Way Pre-K provider or a provider that otherwise serves children from vulnerable family populations, defined as households at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level

• Operate as a Paths to QUALITY™ Level 3 or 4, or as a Paths to QUALITY™ Level 2 with a demonstrated commitment to achieving a higher level of program quality

• Serve children ages 0-5

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May 27, 2020

Current Job Openings

View the current job openings at Oak Park Early Learning Academy in Richmond, Indiana.

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Mar 29, 2020

Enroll today

Enroll today at Oak Park Early Learning Academy and discover the exciting growing and learning adventure awaiting your child.

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Dec 06, 2018

CCDF Voucher Information

Oak Park Early Learning Academy is applying to become a CCDF child care provider. Learn how this program operates and how to find out whether you are eligible.

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Dec 12, 2016

Pop-IN to Pre-K

Celebrate quality - Pop-IN to Pre-K at Oak Park Early Learning Academy!

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Aug 27, 2015

Technology Program

Our technology program is a main component of our preschool curriculum. Developmentally appropriate touchscreen whiteboards and computers will be used by our 3, 4 and 5 year olds.

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Aug 27, 2015

Our Curriculum

Our curriculum is a formal research-based curriculum that provides daily developmentally appropriate practices for our infants through preschoolers.

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Aug 26, 2015

Richmond's Children Need Kindergarten Skills

According to the United Way of Whitewater Valley 's Community Impact report, "Wayne County kindergarten readiness scores remain below the national average, with only 56% of children entering kindergarten in the 2012/2013 school year prepared to begin their education. The United Way is addressing this achievement gap by supporting efforts ensuring children have the positive language, literacy, social, and emotional skills identified as the fundamental building blocks of kindergarten readiness." (Source: United Way, Community Impact, Education)

Oak Park Early Learning Academy is getting ready to open Fall of 2015. Our registered childcare ministry seeks to grow its program to provide slots for over 100 children, with each child immersed in a high-quality curriculum individually preparing them to enter kindergarten -- and succeed! Our childcare program uses an individualized developmental approach to caring and teaching young children. We offer opportunities every day for your child to explore through physical movement, to make discoveries, and to use his/her senses to observe the world around them.

Through exciting, creative hands-on activities, children learn and develop at their own pace, while our teachers utilize research-based curriculum that provides intentional support for that learning and development. Our registered childcare ministry recognizes each child as an individual, expanding where they are and promoting positive learning outcomes that further them along.

Watch for updates as Oak Park Early Learning Academy gets set to grow exceptional learners for social and academic success today -- and tomorrow!

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