2008-09 Preschool Grant Awarded to East Central
June 18, 2008
Governor Chet Culver recently announced the names of the 48 school districts in Iowa receiving state funds for 2008-2009 under the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program for Four-Year-Old Children. The East Central Community School District was among those receiving notification that their application was selected to be funded based upon meeting the required criteria, the reading team's scoring and the Department of Education's "selection criteria". In essence, this funding will allow the East Central District to offer preschool programming to four-year-olds at no cost to their families.
The Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program for Four-Year-Old Children was established in 2007 when Governor Culver signed House File 877. The purpose of statewide preschool program is to expand the opportunity for Iowa’s young children to access quality preschool environments and enter school ready to learn. With these newly approved programs, the state will be providing access to approximately 4,341 more 4-year-olds.
Districts applied for the competitive state grant to provide at least 10 hours a week of quality preschool instruction through collaborative community partnerships. A total of 161 school districts applied for the grant. The Iowa Department of Education selected the school districts to receive funding based on several criteria. Priority was given to high-poverty districts currently without preschool programs. Also considered were collaborative efforts with community early childhood partners and district size.
The 2008 legislature appropriated $15 million for 2008-2009, which is the second school year the preschool program has been available to Iowa school districts. This funding will not only allow the East Central Community School District to eliminate any tuition requirement for 4-year-old preschool students, but it will also enable the current program to expand by adding students and staff.
The East Central Early Learning Preschool offers developmentally appropriate instruction in the Miles Center from 8:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Monday through Friday. In-district preschool students are able to utilize school transportation as well. The district is also in the process of adding and after-school childcare program to serve those students after the preschool day until the end of the regular school day (and possibly beyond). East Central Early Learning Preschool students receive the same services at school as all other students including breakfast, lunch, physical education, music, recess, health services, and access to Area Education Agency (AEA) consultants.
Children do not have to reside within the East Central Community School District to attend the East Central Early Learning Preschool. There are also no open-enrollment requirements for preschool students. To be eligible, children must turn 4 on or before September 15th. If necessary, priority for placement will be given to those students who qualify for the Free/Reduced Federal Lunch Program. Parents interested in enrolling their four-year-old in the East Central Early Learning Preschool are encouraged to call the Miles Center at 682-7131.
