Agency Details:

Aldridge Early Learning Center

The mission of the Aldridge Early Learning Center is to provide quality affordable childcare and early learning opportunities for Quad City children and families.

Description:
We are a licensed full year, full day early education program. Under the governance of a volunteer board of managers, over the past few years we have increased our capacity and scope of services to meet the ever changing needs of our community.

We are a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
The Aldridge Early Learning Center, located in East Moline, began operating in 1980 in the City owned community center. In 2004, we moved into a new facility designed specifically for us.

The Illinois Department of Children & Family Services has licensed our facility to serve 120 children ages 6 weeks - 12 years. We are in operation Monday - Friday from 5:15 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Our staff consist of 30 full and part time professional and paraprofessionals.

A collaborative relationship with the Rock Island County Regional Office of Education makes it possible for us to offer an on-site pre-kindergarten program. Working with our local Head Start office, we also offer an on-site Head Start classroom.

We have several major projects planned for 2009. They include the start of an accreditation process whereas we will become nationally accredited in 2010. We are also preparing to review our mission statement and current strategic plan. Additionally, we will develop a website and explore options for increasing our capacity.

History:
The Aldridge Early Learning Center is a community based child care center that started in 1980 by community activists Florence Aldridge.

With the City of East Moline having been actively involved in the development of the child care center, for 24 years the child care program was housed in the City owned Florence Aldridge Community Center.

Outgrowing the space in the Community Center, in 2003 we began the construction of a new child care facility. In 2004, we moved into the new building. The move, and increase in usable floor space, allowed us to increase our enrollment from 76 to 120 children.

The community in which a family lives is not a criteria for enrollment. During our 29 years of operation, we have served families and children living in Coal Valley, Carbon Cliff, Colona, East Moline, Moline, Port Byron, Rock Island and Silvis.

The child care center's growth has been in response to the needs of the community.

Contact people:

Beverly Clark, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Alicia Heatherly, Intake Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (309) 755-5036

Address:

489 - 27th Street East Moline, IL 61244 (See a map)

Web Site: None specified

Directions:

We are just off Morton Drive, approximately 1 1/2 miles from the Quad City Downs.

Last updated on June 15, 2009