Sonshine Learning Center

Programs: Education program: the organization provided quality early education in a nurturing christian environment for children ages six (6) weeks through pre-kindergarten, by means of a regularly scheduled curriculum that instructs and trains with a view toward enhancing social and intellectual development, employs a regular faculty of qualified teachers and caregivers, provides nutritional meals, and engages in recognized best practices for child development. See schedule o for continued program service accomplishments. In 2014 sonshine learning center was granted membership into the evangelical lutheran education association (elea). We provided early learning services at a reduced rate to 28 children from families that qualified for county assistance programs; that's 11% of all the families we served in 2014. Approximately 38% of the population sonshine learning center served in 2014 was made up of families from ethnic and racial minority groups. Instead of closing central baptist child development center, central baptist church accepted sonshine learning center's invitation to help renovate and run the center. As a result, services for over 40 children avoided cancellation, seven full-time and two part-time staff retained employment. We invested $24,334 in the following contributions to the program:-installed new flooring, -replaced ceiling tiles, -painted walls, -painted five murals, -installed new cabinets,-renovated all rooms,-hired contractors to add an additional classroom,-built two four-seater customized infant eating stations,-and created new system to track county assistance program eligibility. Sonshine learning center purchased the land and buildings where it's initial learning center has been located since it's start in 2003 at 680 highway 110, mendota heights, mn. In addition to our own ministry, we hosted two congregations at that site: mendota heights united church of christ, and aliento de vida.

financial assistance program: the organization has a safety net in place for enrolled families who experience financial difficulty.