Every child deserves an equal chance to a good education.
That?s the theory behind a new USD 257 program that joins forces with local preschools and licensed daycare providers to level the playing field for all 4-year-olds in the district, and better prepare them for kindergarten.
A $139,610 state education grant will allow the district to provide preschool to every 4-year-old, including those who attend two private preschools in Iola: Munchkinland and More at 401 S. Walnut, and Ready Set Learn at 602 S. State.
The district has operated its own preschool program since 2010, first at Windsor Place and now at McKinley Elementary School, for students who meet certain income criteria or have special needs. The ANW Cooperative also screens children to see who may qualify for special education preschool services.
?The state wants to educate all children in their least restrictive environment,? Lynette Brungardt, early childhood coordinator for ANW and a school psychologist, said.
Traditionally, ?at-risk? preschool programs give a boost to students who may otherwise struggle when they enter the formal school setting. Depending on available space, the program accepted some students who didn?t meet those qualifications; they served as peer mentors.
The new program opens tuition-free preschool to all children, regardless of their family?s ability to pay. The district works with the two private preschools to make sure all children are learning the same material.
The district will provide one teacher at each preschool and transport to McKinley those students who qualify for its services.
?Before, if you didn?t qualify for preschool in this building you had to make a choice to pay for it at one of the private preschools in the community or just not send your kids,? Jenna Higginbotham, instructional coach, said. ?Or you might not be able to take off work to transport your children to and from preschool. I was in that situation.?
Preschool has changed over time, Brungardt said. As more parents work, it can be challenging to find a provider and work around schedules for half-day preschool programs.
?We used to have a lot of community-based preschool programs and ANW provided support for those who needed our services. That changed as those providers either retired or stopped for various reasons,? Brungardt continued.
?The state started the at-risk program over 15 years ago and it?s really evolved. Now, we?re getting a blend of kids in our classroom, with special education and at-risk kids as well as those who don?t meet the criteria.?
Angie Linn, McKinley Elementary School principal and USD 257 curriculum director, from left, talks about the district?s new preschool program with instructional coaches Brianna Curry and Jenna Higginbotham, and ANW early childhood coordinator Lynette Brungardt.
