More Birmingham families will receive access to quality early education before kindergarten with $3.5 million in support from the city, advocates said.
Leaders at Small Magic, a Birmingham-based early learning provider, hailed approval of Mayor Randall Woodfin’s Cradle to Career Initiative to promote early literacy.
Small Magic will use its funding to bolster its Birmingham Talks program which uses a wearable “talk pedometer” and personalized coaching to increase early language exposure.
“We’ve seen what’s possible when families and childcare providers have access to the right tools and support,” said Ruth Ann Moss, Executive Director of Small Magic.
“This investment allows us to build on that success and move toward a true early learning ecosystem—one that supports both children and caregivers from the very beginning.”
Since 2019, Birmingham Talks, Small Magic’s flagship program, has reached more than 6,000 children.
“This plan invests in our youth, our neighborhoods, and a human rights legacy that transformed not just Birmingham, but the world and continues to expand,” Woodfin said. “These are shared values and I am thankful to the council for their partnership.”
The city’s $3.5 million approved Tuesday is part of a $31.8 million package of initiatives from Woodfin that comes from a surplus from the fiscal 2024 budget.
Other items on the list include support for the Birmingham Zoo, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, sidewalk improvements and new streetside lighting.
Small Magic leaders said increased funding for education will support a growing set of initiatives designed to reach children earlier and support them over time to ensure that young learners are ready for kindergarten.
“We take this responsibility very seriously,” said Jared Weinstein, board chair at Small Magic.
“This investment is less about a single program and more about building a system that supports children and families from the very beginning. It’s a strong example of what can happen when the public and private sectors align around a shared goal.”
Birmingham investing in expanding early childhood education: ‘We’ve seen what’s possible’
