Delaware first lady Tracey Quillen Carney visited the University of Delaware’s Early Learning Center last week to celebrate Literacy Month and mark the center’s 20th anniversary.
During her Sept. 19 visit, Carney read to the students from her children’s book “Books for Blue” and took a tour of the Wyoming Road facility. She also promoted her First Chance Delaware initiative, which aims to ensure that all of Delaware’s children have a “first chance” to succeed.
“First Chance seeks to promote quality, early language experiences toward healthy brain development and school readiness,” Carney said. “We know that there are incredible windows of opportunity, with long-term implications, during early childhood. Kids aren’t just learning the fundamentals of reading, they’re learning how to read the world.”
The Early Learning Center serves 220 kids, ranging from infants to pre-K, and also offers before and after care programs for kids up to second grade. Many of the students are the children of UD employees, but the ELC is open to all local residents.