AMARILLO, TEXAS -- The Texas Education Association has awarded the 2010-2011 "Texas School Ready!" certification.

The TEA said that more than 1,700 pre-kindergarten classrooms will receive the 2010-2011 school ready certification. The certification is based on the work the classes have done to prepare students for kindergarten. Those children were proven to possess fundamental early reading and social development skills needed to be successful as they move into kindergarten.

"Strong pre-kindergarten programs help get at-risk children off to a good start and improve their chances for success throughout their school career. This certification can be used by parents to quickly identify programs that are effectively preparing children for kindergarten," said Texas Commissioner of Education Robert Scott.

Several programs in Amarillo and throughout the Texas Panhandle earned the certificate, one at the Midtown YMCA in Amarillo. Joanna Conway, Early Head Start Coordinator for the Y, said they prepare their kids for kindergarten and beyond using vocabulary, reading and math with a goal that each child will be confident and ready for college in the future. She added that 60% of the kids enrolled in their program are defined as at-risk.

Conway said it's important since at-risk kids have a higher probability for a repeated cycle of poverty and at-risk lifestyle. At-risk kids have a tendency to struggle and give up quicker in school, putting them behind from the beginning. However, if they are prepared for kindergarten they will enter school with more skills and more confidence to carry them through their educational lives, being better prepared not only for college but thinking of college as a possibility.

The Y takes this approach in educating these young learners, if they build the skills, it can in turn, build the confidence they need to resist their at-risk surroundings.

This year, 71 percent of eligible school district classrooms, 54 percent of eligible Head Start classrooms and 54 percent of eligible licensed childcare providers were certified. Eligible providers are those that participate in TEA-funded early childhood grant programs.

Below is a list of those programs awarded the certificate:

Creative Care 1400 West 10th Street Amarillo 79101
Amarillo Little Stars Academy 1941 Port Lane Amarillo
Amarillo Midtown - YMCA 609 S. Carolina Amarillo 79106
Amarillo Night and Day Care 2831 Mays Amarillo 79109
Amarillo Opportunity School-Downtown 1100 S. Harrison Amarillo 79101
Pampa ISD-Lamar Elementary
Pampa ISD-Lamar Elementary
Pampa ISD-Lamar Elementary
Pampa ISD-Lamar Elementary
Pampa ISD-Lamar Elementary
Pampa St. Matthew's 727 W. Browning Pampa
Ridgelea Elementary - Bovina ISD 500 Halsell Bovina