Published: July 25, 2008 09:49 am      

Details released on preschool program

CLINTON — Children in the Gateway area will now have the opportunity to participate in a free, curriculum-based preschool program in partnership with the Clinton School District. The district has been awarded a grant by the state of Iowa to provide every 4-year-old child living in the Clinton area access to a quality preschool at no cost.

According to Doug Owen, program/grant coordinator, in order to be eligible to participate in the program, a child must be a resident of the state of Iowa and be 4 on or before Sept. 15, 2008.

“It is our goal to have every 4-year-old child living in the Clinton area attend the preschool of (their) parent’s choice,” Owen said.

“Preschool better prepares students for their very first day of kindergarten with knowledge and with skills, and provides students with more success from the very first day of school,” he said.

According to Owen, participating programs include Ashford University Preschool, Head Start-Community Action, Prince of Peace Preschool, St. John’s Lutheran Preschool (p.m. classes only), Stay N Play Preschool, Wee School for Little People, YWCA Children’s Center Preschool and Child Care, and Zion Child Care and Preschool.

Transportation to and from preschool will be provided, but restrictions on bus transportation are dependent on the distance a child needs to be transported. Parents also have the option of transporting their child to and from the preschool of their choice.

The preschool sessions will be five days per week, and scheduling is based on the Clinton School District’s calendar. Morning sessions begin at 9 a.m. and dismiss at 11:30 a.m. Afternoon sessions begin at 12:30 p.m. and dismiss at 3 p.m.

Preschool classes will begin Aug. 25.

Participating preschools will be staffed by properly licensed preschool teachers. A research-based curriculum will be used and ongoing teacher development workshops will be provided by the Area Education Agency.

Owen reports the ratio of staff to children will be no more than 10 children to one adult, and a minimum of 10 hours of curriculum-based instruction will be provided each week.

According to Owen, each preschool will work to develop and maintain a strong relationship between home and school, and will connect with parents through events and conference visits.

“Any time that the schools and the parents have a strong partnership, the child’s learning is enhanced,” Owen said. “We want the parents to know what their child is learning, what skills they’re learning, and of course we want a dialogue with the parents about how they feel the educational process is going.”

Preschool applications will be available at all participating preschools, any elementary school office, or at Roosevelt Administration Center. They may also be picked up at several local businesses.

Owen stated that parents will be able to select the preschool of their choice as long as openings are available.

Applications will be acted on in the order they are received.

“The Clinton 4-Year-Old Preschool Program is a win-win opportunity for everyone involved: for the parents, their child will be going to a quality preschool, the child is getting a quality education, and for the district and the community, students are going to be better prepared to enter our schools,” Owen said. “We hope every eligible child will participate in this wonderful opportunity.”

For more information, parents and caregivers can contact Owen at Jefferson Elementary School by calling 242-5546, extension 2236, or by e-mailing him at dowen@clintonia.org.