LSU Sends Business Leaders Back to Preschool for Lesson in the Importance of Early Education
May 15, 2025
By the time a child reaches five years old, 90% of their brain has already developed, yet access to high-quality early childhood education remains limited across many parts of Louisiana. Despite mounting evidence showing how essential early learning is to a child's long-term success, early care and education programs often struggle for funding, recognition, and public understanding.
- Photos by Eddy Perez
That’s why LSU’s Early Childhood Education Institute sponsored Manic Monday, hosted at the LSU Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool (ECELP). The event brought Baton Rouge business leaders to campus for a look at what it’s like to be an early childhood educator. On Monday, these community leaders joined classrooms of Louisiana’s youngest learners, participating in lessons, play-based activities, and one-on-one interactions designed to showcase the depth and complexity of early learning.
“High-quality education is the key to positive outcomes for young children. The most powerful way to achieve this is by investing in highly trained educators who can nurture young minds, ensuring that children are not only ready for kindergarten but also set up for lifelong success. Educating and supporting teachers is the foundation for fostering a thriving economy and healthy communities down the road, said Cynthia DiCarlo, Executive Director of LSU ECEI.
The ECELP is more than a preschool, it’s a research-driven model for excellence. Located within LSU’s Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education, the center is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and operates as both a classroom and a living lab. It prepares undergraduate and graduate students for careers in early education while also serving as a site for cutting-edge research on child development.
Through initiatives like Manic Monday, the ECELP bridges the gap between academic insight and public perception, demonstrating that quality early childhood education isn’t just a service for children but an investment in Louisiana’s future.
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