BATON ROUGE, La. – The Baton Rouge Area Foundation, in collaboration with the Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation and the Foundation for East Baton Rouge Parish School System, today announced that more than $1.1 million will be available for families accessing early childhood education across East Baton Rouge Parish for the 2026-27 school year.
Collectively, the three foundations raised over $550,000 to support families accessing care at EBRPSS centers across the parish; in total, this funding is expected to clear the way for more than 100 children to access care. Funds raised will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the state’s Early Childhood Education Fund, turning every one dollar raised through private philanthropy into two dollars supporting our earliest learners. In the four years of the fund-matching program, this is the highest fundraising total for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, outpacing the next closest year by more than 10 times.
“We are optimistic about the doors this will open for children in our parish,” said EBRPSS Superintendent LaMont Cole. “With support from our philanthropic partners and the state, more families will be able to enroll their kids into programs that get them a jump-start on reading and other developmental milestones.”
Partners emphasize that, while this is an exciting step forward, much work can and should still be done to expand access to resources for our community’s earliest learners.
Analysis from BRAF’s Opportunity Data Project revealed that, despite near-universal access to pre-K 4 programs, students in EBR are showing up unprepared for kindergarten. One-third of economically disadvantaged EBR students scored a zero on the kindergarten readiness exam, while the national average is 13%.
“This funding is a testament to what we can accomplish when we prioritize collaboration over competition. When foundations work together, we can unlock resources and opportunities that create real progress for our community’s children. While we are proud to serve almost 80% of 4-year-olds in the parish with quality early education, far too many children from birth to age three are missing out on that same critical foundation — and closing that gap is exactly why we came together,” said Jennifer Lightfoot, Executive Director of the Foundation for East Baton Rouge School System.
Studies such as the Perry Preschool Project and the Abecedarian Project show significant improvements in graduation rates, college attendance, employment stability, and reduced reliance on public assistance. Research showed these investments delivered up to $7–$12 in social returns per $1 invested.
“We know from the research that few investments have a greater impact on a child’s future than high-quality early education. These funds help make that quality accessible—supporting working families today while strengthening economic mobility for the next generation,” says David Beach, president & CEO of the Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation.
“When we invest in a child’s earliest years, we are not simply funding a classroom – we are building the architecture of a community’s future,” said Chris Meyer, BRAF’s president and CEO. “Quality early childcare and education frees parents to work, lifts up the educators who provide it, and sets children on trajectories that compound over a lifetime. There is no smarter bet Baton Rouge and our state can make.”
Funding will be allocated as stipends that help families afford the cost of care and enable authorized childcare centers to hire more teachers, ultimately serving more children. Families interested in learning if they qualify to access this funding to support tuition expenses in the 2026-27 academic year should visit EBREarlyChildhood.orgfor more information.
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About the Baton Rouge Area Foundation: Among the largest community foundations in the country, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation has sought to improve the quality of life in greater Baton Rouge and across south Louisiana since 1964.
The Foundation pursues its mission by serving donors to build the assets that drive initiatives and solutions, supporting local nonprofits to ensure overall impact and sustainability, engaging community leaders to develop appropriate responses to emerging opportunities and challenges, and by partnering with others to leverage collective resources and create the capacity to be a stimulus of positive regional change.
For more information, visit BRAF.org.
About the Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation: The Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation was created in 1986 and began grantmaking in 2000 to better the lives of the people in the greater Baton Rouge community. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson believed communities should use their local talents and resources to solve problems; however, communities sometimes need additional support along the way. The Foundation believes that when people have their healthcare, education and basic needs met, they can be self-sufficient, productive, and successful members of society. Learn more about HAWF at hawilsonfoundation.org.
About the Foundation for EBRPSS: The Foundation for East Baton Rouge Schools is dedicated to enhancing education, championing innovation, and providing sustained financial support to public schools within the East Baton Rouge Parish Public School System.
We believe every student in Baton Rouge deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive — from their first day of preschool to their first day on the job. We work toward a future where children enter kindergarten ready to succeed, graduate with meaningful credentials, and step confidently into careers that sustain their families and fuel our community. Learn more at foundationebr.org.
About the East Baton Rouge Parish School System: The East Baton Rouge Parish Public School System serves more than 38,000 students and is committed to educating the whole child from early childhood through graduation. Through a diverse network of award-winning neighborhood schools, magnet programs, and career and technical education pathways, the district works to ensure every student has access to high-quality learning opportunities that prepare them for college, career, and life. Learn more at ebrschools.org.