LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville's historic Russell neighborhood will soon be home to a preschool founded by Amazon owner, Jeff Bezos.
Bezos Academy is a network of tuition-free, Montessori-inspired preschools across the nation.
Located at 3026 River Park Drive, Bezos Academy Louisville - Russell will help improve access to early childhood education in the area. It will feature four classrooms and will follow a full-day, year-round schedule for children ages 3-5 years old. At full capacity, the preschool will have room for up to 80 children.
According to a press release, LDG Development signed a 10-year lease agreement with Bezos Academy to open Bezos Academy Louisville - Russell.
LDG Development and Bezos Academy started working together in December 2022 to explore bringing tuition-free, full-day preschools to LDG communities.
“Access to preschool is a struggle for families across the country – with two of the biggest barriers being affordability and location,” Mike George, president of Bezos Academy, said. “Partnering with affordable housing communities allows us to build schools where our families live and work, making it easier for them to enroll their children, and for us to truly understand their needs.”
The release said Bezos Academy covers all the operating expenses for preschool programs at no cost to the families they serve. The organization hires, trains, develops and pays educators. They also provide everything that the students will need throughout their day, including breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.
Bezos Academy Louisville - Russell is the second tuition-free Bezos Academy preschool in Louisville. The first was Bezos Academy Louisville - Okolona.
Both schools are expected to open in 2025 after construction is complete.
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