Free Full-Time Preschool Program

Spots are still available for enrollment in our Pre-K Counts Preschool Program at our Erie City locations. Classes are full-day and are provided at No Cost to families meeting the eligibility requirements: Children must be between 3 & 5 years of age (do not meet the Kindergarten cut-off date), and household income must not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level. For example, a family of 4 can earn up to $90,000 a year.

Classes start soon! Contact the location nearest you to apply. City Center, 704 State St – 814-456-4576 John Horan Garden Apts, 730 Tacoma Rd – 814-454-9713 Harbor Homes, 1841 E 18th St – 814-899-3310

We are now enrolling for Fall Pre-K Counts! We’re accepting applications for slots in all of our centers. The first round of applications will close on June 30th, 2023. We look forward to hearing from you! To apply: Pre-K Counts e-Application 2023 (fillable form), or 2023 Pre-K Counts Application (printable pdf). B.B. King once said, “The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” We’d love to be a part of helping your little ones learn!

Early Connections pre-apprenticeship sponsor designation marks promising future for early childhood education training

People from various Early Childhood Education support programs visited Corry’s ECE classroom this week to deliver new textbooks and supplies to the program.

The conventional path to getting a job is nonexistent. Some people believe education should be four years in a university, while others believe a degree is obsolete or think trade school is a better route for any needed higher education.

At the age of 18 or even 16, it can be a daunting decision to make. What was once very cut and dry is now becoming fluid, though. For Corry Area School District, students in the school’s Career and Technical Education Center’s (CTEC) Early Childhood Education (ECE) classroom are able to gain enough experience to receive certification upon graduation to enter a variety of childcare jobs. 

At CTEC, students are able to take a three-year Pennsylvania Department of Education-approved program of study for early childhood education. From grades 10 to 12, students get hands-on experiences with young children in a laboratory per-school setting.

Read the full article in the Corry Journal

Celebrating National Pre-Apprenticeship Day

Tuesday, November 16th, was National Pre-Apprenticeship Day and we are celebrating!
Early Connections is now an official Registered Early Childhood (EC) Pre-Apprenticeship Sponsor by the PA Department of Labor & Industry. The NW Regional EC Apprenticeship Intermediary team is equipped to provide support to high schools and vocational programs offering EC Pre-Apprenticeship Programming in our region. L-R Kim Kuehl, Workforce Coordinator; Jestina Klink, Associate Executive Director; Michelle Harkins, Executive Director; Kim Beers, Intermediary Supervisor.