SPRINGFIELD -- Calling it a "dream come true," educators and philanthropists unveiled plans Wednesday for a $12 million early childhood center in the Old Hill neighborhood intended to serve as a national model for preparing children for academic success.

Mary E. Walachy, executive director of the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation, said that $13.5 million has been raised in private funds for the center and its programs. That amount came from three donors -- two anonymous contributors and the Davis Foundation.

The Davis Foundation was the lead partner in pushing for the new center that is tied to the nationwide Educare program.

The Buffett Early Childhood Fund, created by billionaire philanthropist Warren Buffett's daughter, Susie, supports the Educare network. The Buffett Early Childhood Fund took part in announcing the Springfield site through its vice president, Michael Burke, during an Editorial Board meeting of The Republican.

Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield Head Start will operate the new Springfield.

"First of all, as an early childhood educator for over 40 years, this is like a dream come true for me," said Janis Santos, executive director of the area Head Start program. "The critical years are pre-school years. We are preparing these children for school and for life."

Santos said she started in early education when it was not considered very important by many who likened it to babysitting. That attitude has changed, she said.

"It is an honor to do this program," Santos said.

The center will be built on land owned by Springfield College adjacent to the new Brookings Elementary School. The site is near the intersection of Hickory and Walnut streets, and also bordered by Eastern Avenue.

Planners hope construction begins in June, and the center is expected to open by September 2019, Walachy said. A nonprofit organization consisting of community members will be established to oversee the program, she said.

The new center will serve 141 children who will be selected from the Head Start program based on factors including income and need. The early childhood program is for children ages just past birth to 5 years old.

The Educare program includes longer days for the children and is year-round, officials said. Parents involvement is a key focus of Head Start, Santos said.

Educare has been a growing program across the United States the past decade and is based on a culture of "data utilization, embedded professional development, high-quality teaching practices and intensive family engagement," according to its organizers.

There are 23 Educare programs in the United States among 15 states, ranging from urban to suburban communities. The closest ones to Massachusetts are in Maine and Washington, reflective of the diversity of locations.

Burke said the decision to choose certain sites for the centers includes confidence in the quality of local partners. In Springfield's case, the partners include the Davis Foundation, Holyoke-Chicopee-Springfield Head Start and Springfield College.

The initiative "sends the signal that learning begins at birth and that we really should be focused on this continuum of learning all throughout the life cycle," he said.

Burke said there is a growing understanding that the early years "are the most precious years to make lifelong change."

Educare regularly evaluates its program, and statistics show that the majority of children leaving Educare for elementary school are academically, socially and emotionally ready for kindergarten, according to Educare.

Wallachy said it is known through that children who do not receive early education do not do as well when they are in school.

"This is not a facility that we will replicate 10 times in Springfield," Wallachy said. "This is a demonstration site. It's a demonstration of the highest quality early childhood education that children, all children, should get but not all children do get."