HOUSTON – (Nov. 29, 2006)–A pre-kindergarten education program developed by the State Center for Early Childhood Development at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is receiving an additional $12 million in funding from the Texas Workforce Commission.

The TWC’s Quality Childcare Matching Funds will help the learning-readiness program, the Texas Early Education Model (TEEM), expand coverage into rural areas and smaller communities. The program is a state-mandated effort to improve the readiness of children entering kindergarten and is particularly aimed at child-care programs serving poor and at-risk children.

TWC receives funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to spend on quality child care. TEEM receives matching funds from the Texas Education Agency.

“This is a great opportunity to leverage state and federal dollars to help ensure that disadvantaged children enter school on a level playing field,” said Diane Rath, chair of the TWC, which gave the program $8.3 million in matching funds in June 2006.

Key ingredients of TEEM include: developing a partnership among childcare and early education programs, implementing a teacher training program, using research-based, state-approved curricula and using progress monitoring to ensure that children are meeting instructional goals.

In addition to the 20 Texas communities already receiving TEEM grants, new areas TEEMing up include: rural Amarillo, Beaumont, Nederland/Beaumont, Belton, Copperas Cove/Fort Hood, Corpus Christi/Kingsville, Ellis County, Huntsville, Killeen, Kilgore/Tyler/East Texas, La Marque, LaSara, McAllen, Northeast Texas, Pearsall/Crystal City, Stockdale and Temple.

Media Contact: Deborah Mann Lake
Media Hotline:  713-500-3030