Early Learning Center in Springfield, Illinois on DonorsChoose

{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Early Learning Center","outOfStateSupporters":31.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":854581,"projectId":9925561,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donation. Because of your generosity, we were able to purchase a Tonie's Box and several characters for the classroom. For some students, this has been the first toy this year that has truly captured their attention for an extended period of time! The music and story telling is engaging and the simplicity of the toy means nearly all students are able to use it independently and appropriately. The songs and stories have become nearly constant background noise in the classroom as it is nearly always in use. \r\n\r\nA couple of students in particular have become especially fond of the Tonie's box and will listen to stories intently and sometimes dance along to favorite songs. I've been able to get books to match a couple of the stories being read (Brown Bear has been a clear favorite). It has been incredible to see one of the students follow along in the book to the reading through the Tonie's box. My students often lack the necessary joint attention to engage appropriately with being read to and this has truly helped me bridge the gap. \r\n\r\nWe recently had an opportunity for parents to visit the classroom. After seeing their child interact with the Tonie's box, a couple of families mentioned they would be gifting one to their child for Christmas. It was so exciting to share a toy the kids loves so much with their parents. I truly appreciate the opportunity to give this toy to my students. Just as much, I appreciate a new opportunity to engage meaningfully with the children in something they love. I am so grateful you chose to support us!","fullyFundedDate":1764598148442,"projectUrl":"project/exploring-music-through-a-tonies-box/9925561/","projectTitle":"Exploring Music Through a Tonies Box","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kaesebier","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp854581_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y386&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1761671149634","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/854581"},{"teacherId":5263097,"projectId":9549834,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our classroom with your generous donations. Thanks to your kindness and generosity, our students have each received a subscription to Scholastic's \"Let's Find Out\" magazine. We will read the magazine together each week, watch accompanying video clips, and play learning games related to each topic.\r\n\r\nThe \"Let's Find Out\" magazine has been a huge hit with my class! Each week the boys and girls look forward to finding out what new topic we will be learning about. The October issue called \"Shine Bright Like a Diamond\" about the night sky might be their favorite so far! In that one issue alone we were able to build upon important literacy, science, social and developmental skills. The students love taking home their magazine and sharing it with their families. This provides the opportunity for conversations about the topics to continue in the home.\r\n\r\nThank you again for contributing to our classroom project! We truly appreciate it!","fullyFundedDate":1757423306651,"projectUrl":"project/lets-find-out-about-the-world-around-us/9549834/","projectTitle":"Let's Find Out About the World Around Us!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ziccarelli","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-ziccarelli"},{"teacherId":7929179,"projectId":9117468,"letterContent":"Thank you for your donation! With your money, we were able to purchase an incubator, hatching materials, stuffed chickens, books, and other learning materials. The materials created an exciting and hands-on environment for learning. From learning the life cycle of a chicken to observing eggs crack and learning about chick life on a farm, our students will remember these experiences for years. \r\n\r\nWe will study chickens and farm life again this year, using the materials you helped provide. We will complete Chick Journals, count little plastic chickens, dig in sand for eggs, and a bunch of other fun chicken-related activities. Connecting literacy, math, and science through hands-on play is how our students learn best, and your generosity made that happen. I cannot wait until we start our chick's theme this year!","fullyFundedDate":1740764110894,"projectUrl":"project/hatching-real-life-chickens-in-pre-k/9117468/","projectTitle":"Hatching Real-Life Chickens in Pre-K!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Servough","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7929179_orig.jpg?crop=498,498,x0,y34&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1691593418538","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/servough-athomelearning"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_26225","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":420,"numTeachers":31,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":3,"percentBlack":44,"percentWhite":34,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":3,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - Pre-K","studentTeacherRatio":"13.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":68.3,"schoolId":26225,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Early Learning Center on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Early Learning Center","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/springfield-public-schools-district-186/early-learning-center/26225"}

About this school

Early Learning Center is an urban public school in Springfield, Illinois that is part of Springfield Public Schools District 186. It serves 420 students in grades Pre-K - Pre-K with a student/teacher ratio of 13.5:1. Its teachers have had 214 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades Pre-K - Pre-K

420 Students

31 Teachers

2501 S 1st St

Springfield, IL 62704 View local requests

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at Early Learning Center to request what their students need.

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Early Learning Center Teachers on DonorsChoose

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Every donation funds real needs — pencils, books, lab equipment, art supplies, and more — helping students learn and thrive. We ship supplies directly to the school, and you'll see exactly where each dollar goes.

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Early Learning Center Demographics

95%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

50%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Early Learning Center Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Jan 12, 2026

DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.