The University of Mississippi announced this week that a $32.8 million Early Learning and Evaluation Center will open in early 2027 and focus on addressing learning disabilities while helping those with autism.
Construction on the center began last month. Upon completion, it will be operated by the UM School of Education and will house the university’s nationally accredited preschool, the Willie Price Lab School. It will also allow more children to receive developmental and auditory evaluations, increasing opportunities for early intervention services.
“We are pleased to expand how we serve our community through the UM Early Learning and Evaluation Center and uphold our deep commitment for caring for one another, a cornerstone of our university’s values,” Chancellor Glenn Boyce said.
“It is exciting to see how our talented and committed faculty and students from the School of Education will provide important evaluation and education services through the center,” he continued. “We are grateful for the support of the state, and we eagerly anticipate the construction of the forthcoming state-of-the-art facility.”
The two-story, 51,447-square-foot facility is being funded by a combination of state and federal funds, with the public university investing more than $21 million and another $10 million coming from the state legislation and $1.4 million from the U.S. Department of Education.
Nearly 12,000 square feet of space inside the facility are reserved for a sensory playroom, evaluation and observation rooms, and clinical information space. Other specifics include 10 technology-equipped preschool classrooms, two outdoor playgrounds, and a dining room.
Outside of early education opportunities, the Early Learning and Evaluation Center will aim to curb a nationwide shortage of board-certified behavior analysts trained to create treatment plans that help children with autism achieve behavioral changes. It will provide clinical practice opportunities for students in the UM schools of Education and Applies Sciences and the Department of Psychology who are learning to support children diagnosed with autism.
The center aims to achieve a university goal of housing its preschool and childhood evaluation center under one roof. Together, evaluation services and support for children with learning disabilities or autism will be streamlined, according to Willie Price Lab School director Alyce Krouse.
“Combining the preschool and evaluation center will allow students who require services to start required therapies sooner rather than having to wait for referrals and evaluations,” she said. “We are also looking forward to more collaboration between the classroom teachers and the evaluation center staff.”
The Early Learning and Evaluation Center is being constructed at the South Oxford Center, which currently is home to the UM Speech and Hearing Clinic. With the University of Mississippi Medical Center and other partners entwined in children’s evaluations, more efficient care is guaranteed by school officials.
“Identifying students who need support early on greatly increases their chances of success and chances to graduate high school,” said David Rock, dean of the education school.
It also brings additional resources to the northern part of Mississippi, which as a state, is in “high need” of early intervention options as noted in the Children’s Foundation of Mississippi’s 2024 Kids Count Data Book.
State Sen. Nicole Boyd, who represents Oxford and is the mother of a disabled child, sees the incoming center as having a positive impact statewide.
“We know that 90% of brain development happens before the age of 5, which is why early intervention and learning are so critical,” she said. “This new center is not just a building; it’s an investment in the future of Mississippi’s children and families, especially those navigating developmental delays or autism.
“For too many parents, finding quality care – particularly for children with autism or other developmental needs – is an almost impossible task, and this center offers real hope.”
