Louisville expands early childhood education with 'Thrive By 5' initiative

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville is ramping up efforts to provide quality early childhood education to every family in the city.

This initiative, announced by Mayor Craig Greenberg, is set to be led by the newly appointed executive director of Thrive By 5 Louisville (TB5L), Reylene Robinson.

"Thrive By 5," a nonprofit aimed at increasing access to early care and education, has long been committed to creating a strong foundation for children’s learning from a young age.

Robinson takes on the role after a nationwide search and brings years of nonprofit leadership experience, having previously served as chief community officer at Seven Counties Services.

“We are thrilled to welcome Reylene Robinson as the inaugural executive director of Thrive By 5 Louisville,” said Ashley Novak Butler, TB5L Board Chair. “Her leadership will be crucial in advancing policies that support young children and working families.”

Robinson’s goal is simple: to ensure that every family in Louisville has access to pre-kindergarten services.

As part of this effort, the program will expand partnerships with early learning providers and work on policies that promote accessible, affordable childcare.

“We want to ensure every child, every family, has access to pre-K services,” Robinson said.

Ashley Rowlett, a single parent, shared her experience with early childhood education, noting the financial struggles she faced while ensuring her son attended early learning programs.

Despite the challenges, she believes it was essential for his development.

"I know that it’s what he needed," she said. "He's already advanced and in AP classes."

Louisville has shown strong support for the expansion of early childhood education, including a $5 million allocation from the 2024-2025 Metro budget to help fund TB5L's first phase of work.

These funds will support initial operations, workforce development, and improvements to early learning facilities. Greenberg is confident that with Robinson’s leadership, the city is well on its way to achieving the vision of accessible early learning for all.

“When I created Thrive By Five, the vision was to make quality early childhood learning opportunities available to every child in Louisville,” Greenberg said. “Under Reylene’s leadership, we’ll continue making that vision a reality.”

Research shows that increased access to quality early education not only boosts academic performance but also supports economic growth and workforce participation, creating lasting benefits for the entire community.

As the program continues to evolve, officials remain committed to building a strong foundation for Louisville's youngest learners, ensuring that they hit the ground running when they enter school.

To learn more about Thrive By 5 Louisville, click here.

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