TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) -- The Tupelo Kiwanis Club met with the representative of a program that aims to help children in the classroom.
The program is called Excel By 5.
"This is a state-wide early childhood program that Lee County is participating in. We have a group of about 37 people who are on our leadership team. We have a list of certification requirements that the program mandates that we meet in order to become a certified early childhood community, and that's what we're working on," said Beverly Williams of Excel By 5.
The program aims to capitalize on the early stages of childhood development where the brain is most receptive to consuming information.
Excel By 5 believes that many children are not even prepared for kindergarten due to lack of early childhood education programs.
"So you can't really start their education when they get to kindergarten. You really have to be working with them. Talking to them, reading to them and building that vocabulary so that when they get to kindergarten, they are not behind already," added Williams.
After meeting with the Tupelo Kiwanis Club, President Lynn Bryan believes that this is a perfect program for Tupelo and especially the club to get behind.
"Kiwanis' mission, especially the Tupelo club, is serving children and that's serving children worldwide. And the majority of the money we raise, which is about $30,000 a year, all goes to children's charities. This is one the club is going to support and get behind," said President Lynn Bryan.
Operations for Excel by 5 haven't started just yet in Lee County, but the ball should get rolling soon according to organizers.
