Preschool, the precursor for the big step into kindergarten, is another important decision parents make among the multitudes of decisions along their child’s educational pathway. St. Cloud Area School District helps make the decision easy and the process seamless.
Studies show that preschool has a big impact on preparing children for kindergarten as well as getting a jumpstart on potential achievement gaps. With nearly four million students entering kindergarten every year, it’s imperative that all students be prepared academically and social-emotionally.
Research and advances in neuroscience indicate the early years of a child’s life are a critical time for learning and development.
The United States Department of Education reports, “Children’s language skills from age 1 to 2 are predictive of their pre-literacy skills at age five.”
The department also indicates, “Children who participate in high-quality preschool programs have better health, social-emotional and cognitive outcomes than those who do not participate.”
Consequently, according to the US Department of Education, children (particularly low-income) can on average start 12 to 14 months behind their peers in pre-literacy and language skills if they do not attend preschool.
According to the National Institute of Early Education Research (2013), six out of 10 four-year-olds are not enrolled in publicly funded preschool programs. In Minnesota, the number is even higher. Eighty-five percent of four-year-olds are not enrolled in any public funded program.
What does that mean?
Preschool attendees start with a 60 percent advantage over their peers nationally and an 85 percent advantage in Minnesota. Those kinds of statistics make a huge impact in a child’s life and later career.
Children who attend preschool are more likely to have increased math skills (by 44 percent), have 85 percent more print literacy and comprehension, are more motivated in academics and four times more likely to graduate.
The tie [from preschool to kindergarten] is language,” says Julie Midas, director of early childhood in District 742. “We build language-specific vocabulary to match books. For an example, one of our classrooms used the word devour. The teachers discuss the meaning of the word. Then when they read the book with the word, students remember the meaning of the word.”
For District 742, literacy is a high focus. Students are taught what letters look like, sound like and how to write them. Vocabulary is purposeful. The curriculum is taught through play by licensed teachers.
“For instance, you can have a child read the word elephant, but if they don’t know what an elephant looks like, it doesn’t do any good. The child would have had to see an elephant at the zoo or a picture,” explains Midas.
Students need to have the correlation and comprehension piece of language to be prepared for kindergarten.
“These kids can handle it [learning]. It is so awesome to see,” says Midas. “We teach it [literacy and math] through play. It’s [teaching] a purposeful, meaningful fun way. Some of the things taught now in preschool are things that were once taught in first grade just a few years ago -like sounds at the end of a word or rhyming.”
The state of Minnesota is committed to early childhood education. Early Learning Scholarships became available statewide for the 2016-17 school year. These scholarships give access to high-quality early childhood programs for three- and four-year-olds with priority given to families based on income, geographic region and child poverty. Each scholarship awarded can be for up to $7,500. The estimation of the state of Minnesota is that preschool enrollment could increase by 17 percent.
In District 742, the preschool program is a 4-Star Parent Aware Rating. The highest obtainable rating. This allows families to the ability to access one of two different pathways for scholarship assistance.
In Pathway I, the scholarship money goes directly to the program of the family’s choosing. The funds are awarded for up to 12 months and can be dispersed to programs that are either a three- or four-star rated program.
Pathway II is slightly different. The funds for this pathway can only be given to programs that are a four-star rated program and will be granted for up to 12 months.
One exciting aspect to preschool in District 742 is the volunteer pre-K funding from the State of Minnesota.
Free preschool for 4-year-olds is being offered at our Discovery Community School, Lincoln Elementary and Talahi Community School for families living in or having childcare within the boundary lines of those three schools.
Midas emphasizes, “We’ll work with family budgets if families don’t qualify. Call us for scholarships. We are going to help families out.”
District 742 employs licensed teachers, uses a research-based, state-approved, district designed curriculum; supports developmentally appropriate activities around play and provides a nurturing and stimulating preschool environment.
Preschool is a great transition that will add to their success,” explains Midas. “We prepare the whole child for learning.”
Preschool in District 742 is offered at several locations: Clearview Elementary School, Discovery Community School, Colts Academy, Kennedy Community School, Lincoln Elementary School, Madison Elementary School, Oak Hill Community School, Talahi Community School and Westwood Elementary School.
Sources:
United States Department of Education. (April 2015). “A Matter of Equity: Preschool in America” https://www2.ed.gov/documents/early-learning/matter-equity-preschool-america.pdf
Minnesota Department of Education. Early Learning Scholarship Program. http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/fam/elsprog/elschol/index.htm
Society for Research in Child Development. (October 2013). “Investing in our Future: The Evidence Base on Preschool Education.”
LAUP. (May 2014). “The Benefits of Preschool.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dYy4ulnZ70
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