Brilliant School one of 64 in state to receive new Pre-K classroom

BRILLIANT —  Brilliant School will be getting a brand new Pre-K classroom through the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education.
According to a press release from Governor Kay Ivey’s office, “The new classrooms, supported by the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education, will increase access to Alabama's nationally recognized First Class Pre-K program and help meet growing demand in communities throughout the state.”
There were a total of 64 classrooms that were announced, which will begin operating this upcoming school year. Brilliant Principal Ryan Sanderson said he was excited for Brilliant to be one of these recipients.
“Brilliant School is excited to announce the addition of our new Pre-K program, Alabama First Class,” Sanderson said. “This is an important step forward for both our students and our community.
“We are thrilled to provide our youngest learners with a strong educational foundation that will prepare them for future success while helping families in our area. By welcoming students at an earlier age, we have the opportunity to build positive relationships with families, foster a love of learning from the very beginning and create a seamless transition into elementary school.
“We believe the addition of Pre-K will strengthen enrollment, support the continued growth of Brilliant School and make our community an even more attractive place for families to live and learn. We are incredibly excited about the opportunities this program will provide and look forward to watching our youngest Tigers learn, grow and thrive.
“We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Governor Kay Ivey for approving a First-Class Pre-K program for Brilliant School. We would also like to thank the Marion County Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sutton for their continued support.”
"Alabama didn't become the nation's highest-quality state-funded Pre-K program for 20 consecutive years by accident," said ADECE Secretary Ami Brooks in the original press release. "This milestone reflects decades of commitment from educators, communities and state leaders who have never wavered in their belief that our youngest learners deserve the very best start. Every new classroom we add is an investment in a child's future and a continuation of Alabama's legacy as a national leader in early childhood education.”
Alabama’s First Class Pre-K program was recently recognized by the National Institute for Early Education Research “as the nation’s highest-quality state-funded pre-kindergarten program for an unprecedented 20th consecutive year,” the press release stated.
According to the press release, Alabama is the only state to achieve this distinction.
Sanderson confirmed that Brilliant’s new Pre-K program will begin this fall, and that registration is now open online at prek.alaceed.alabama.gov, or through a link that can be found on Brilliant School’s Facebook page.