From the basement of Erickson Hall to a 10,000 square foot newly renovated facility, the University of Kentucky College of Education’s Early Childhood Lab has come full circle.
The new Early Childhood Lab is more than double the size of the former space and is filled with improvements to enhance early education. Jennifer Grisham-Brown, professor in the College of Education and faculty director at the ECL says new features are geared toward the development of students who have very individual needs. “Our teachers are trained to work with children with and without disabilities; children who are at risk, children who are in a wide variety of backgrounds. What we’ve done here at the lab school is that we’ve created a model of curriculum and assessment that works for them. We also provide service to the community, the university community and also the Lexington community by providing high quality child care.”
Grisham-Brown calls the new center a dream come true and one that’s been in the works for 15 years. It’s filled with interactive workstations, classrooms, kitchenettes and bright “kid” inviting furnishings and play equipment. The renovation project cost two and a half million dollars.