Brillante will deliver a new comprehensive model of early
childhood education that not only focuses on serving the critical
development period of children from birth to age 5, but also the
workforce development of high-quality early childhood educators and
the childcare needs of the community
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.,
May 23,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Explora Science Center &
Children's Museum (Explora) and Central
New Mexico Community College (CNM) have joined forces to
launch a trailblazing model of early childhood education. It
invests in high-quality STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering,
Arts and Math) early education and childcare, a well-trained early
childhood educator workforce, and much-needed childcare services
for community members and CNM students who are parents
striving to earn degrees, certificates and a better quality of life
for their families. All three of these focuses will bolster
positive outcomes for the community and economy, while also
delivering a promising model that can be emulated at other early
childhood centers.
The 14,000-square-foot facility, called the Brillante Early
Learning Center, is being constructed as Phase Two of Explora's
Cradle through Career STEAM Learning Campus development in
Albuquerque. It's expected to
establish Explora and CNM as national leaders in early childhood
practice and workforce development. Brillante will deliver
high-quality early childhood education and care for young children
(infant to 5-years-old) that will be rooted in STEAM education and
play-based learning, while also serving as a learning lab for CNM
students pursuing certificates and degrees in the college's Early
Childhood Multicultural Education (ECME) program.
"Explora is so excited about this project, which is grounded in
community listening and which has been developed with a Planning
Team of local early childhood experts. We've heard from so many
families that high-quality early childhood education and care is
critically-important for improving both family and community
prosperity. Brillante Early Learning Center will change lives –
helping young parents finish their certificates and degrees and get
jobs that can end generational cycles of poverty – and we couldn't
be more excited to be working with CNM on this impactful
partnership," says Explora Co-Executive Director, Kristin Leigh, who has been working on the
concept for Brillante Early Learning Center for close to 10
years.
Brillante will be a STEAM-based early childhood school using the
Reggio Emilia approach to education. This approach views children
as active, capable and extremely valuable members of the community
who should be encouraged to explore, question, and interpret the
world during their first five years of life. Providing a
state-of-the-art, experience-rich environment where children can
engage in this approach every day will contribute to healthier,
more engaged and more productive members of society.
For CNM students in the ECME associate degree and
certificate programs, Brillante will be leveraged as a learning
lab, providing real-world, field-based experience and mentorship in
a high-quality early care and education center, preparing them to
become highly valued members of the early childhood education
workforce across the state. Students will be able to complete their
on-site field work in Brillante classrooms with mentoring and
supervision from CNM faculty, as well as conduct certain course
assignments at a centralized location.
CNM faculty and staff will also be able to visit and observe
Brillante as a resource for developing curriculum and for ongoing
professional development. Brillante will continue to offer
professional development opportunities for early childhood
educators and directors from across New
Mexico.
The Albuquerque community,
including CNM student parents, will be able to take advantage
of high-quality, subsidized childcare services at Brillante.
Childcare issues are a significant barrier to pursuing and
completing higher education for many working learners. There are
currently two Brillante pilot classrooms operating at Explora, with
the majority of the children served having parents who attend CNM.
Once the facility is complete, the center is projected to serve
more than 100 young children, with most of them being children of
CNM students.
"At CNM, we're very excited about this extraordinary
partnership with Explora, because it's going to create so many
positive ripple effects on our community, our students, and our
state," said CNM President Tracy
Hartzler. "We all know the critical importance of providing
high-quality education and care during the formative years for
children up to age 5. To provide that high-quality early education
to all New Mexico families, we
need a larger and well-trained early education teacher workforce.
Separately, one in six CNM students report being parents – and they
need more options for quality childcare. Too often, childcare
challenges cause them to give up on an education that would provide
them a better life. We're confident that this partnership and model
are going to deliver impressive, inspiring outcomes and solutions
on a number of fronts."
Nobel Prize-winning economist, James Heckman, has done
significant research on the return on investment in early childhood
education. Brillante has drawn inspiration from his equation –
"Invest+Develop+Sustain=Gain" – which is: 1) Invest in educational
and developmental resources for disadvantaged families to provide
equal access to successful early human development; 2) Nurture
early development of cognitive and social skills in children from
birth to age 5; 3) Sustain early development with effective
education through to adulthood; 4) Gain a more capable, productive,
and valuable workforce that pays dividends to America for
generations to come.
The Brillante facility will include eight to 10 classrooms
serving infants through Pre-K students; adult classrooms for CNM
students; a welcome plaza with Explora hands-on STEAM exhibits;
space for school-wide meetings; an art studio; outdoor learning
spaces; and a full kitchen.
This high quality, STEAM-based early childhood center will be
free to most New Mexicans due to funding from the State of New Mexico's Childcare Assistance
Program, the New Mexico Pre-K grant, and the Child and Adult Care
Food Program.
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SOURCE Central New Mexico
Community College (CNM)