Indiana was one of the eight states lagging behind when it came to providing state aid for preschool education.
According to Indianapolis Public School (IPS) Superintendant Eugene White, “it’s been past due.” When the decision was made to launch the first step in the state’s free, full-day preschool to begin next fall, White was elated to hear the news that has been in the works for several years now.
“Two factors really motivated us to accelerate the initiative. One because of full-day kindergarten we were able to get more than 75 percent of our kids ready for first grade. Prior to full-day kindergarten it was 50 percent or below,” White explained. “Second, we believe if we have the full-day preschool then we can get 95 percent ready for first grade.”
The success of full day kindergarten and demand for full day preschool from the community led district leaders to commit to launching preschool in the next school year.
Research indicates children who attend preschool enter kindergarten prepared, read faster and retain more knowledge. As a result when students take the third grade reading test they are actually reading at the third grade level. Preschool is that first start.
According to the Office of School and Community Relations at IPS in the inaugural year of its free, full-day preschool program, the Indianapolis Public Schools and six community partners will serve nearly half of the eligible 4-year-olds residing within the district.
District officials predict interested families will quickly fill the 64 classrooms located in 34 sites serving just over 1,400 students during the 2013-2014 school year. The first opportunity to enroll students in the program will be Jan. 19 and Jan. 23 when the district hosts its Preschool Information and Application Fair.
Preschool will be offered through two general education stand-alone preschool centers, six general education community partner preschool sites, seven existing IPS schools and 13 special education preschool sites.
Each classroom will hold a maximum of 20 students with a licensed teacher and classroom assistant teaching the same curriculum. The ultimate goal is to have every 4-year-old in preschool with the help of the community.
“We will be funding other community preschool providers so they can expand the number of kids they are providing preschool for as well. We are not trying to do this all ourselves, we are partnering with other quality preschool providers in the community so we can get more kids,” said Sam Odle, IPS School Board Commissioner.
The IPS program will cost about $8 million annually, three-fourths of which will come from federal poverty programs. Some of that money was freed up for the preschool effort after the Legislature approved funding for full-day kindergarten at Indiana’s public schools.
Diane Arnold, president of Indianapolis Public Schools Board, says this will make a significant difference in children being able to be ready to start school.
“This is a first step. There are a lot of children who live in communities who don’t have community centers or churches that do early childhood education,” said Arnold. “We really need to work together to find those children. I know how important it is. We have to be as invitational as possible and use every method we can to let parents know this is out there.”
A Preschool Information and Application Fair will be hosted in the cafeteria at Arsenal Technical High School, 1500 E. Michigan St. The fair will be open from 9 a.m. to noon on Jan. 19 and from 6 to 9 p.m. on Jan. 23.
Parents and guardians coming to one of the information and application fairs are asked to bring the following items with them if they wish to complete on-site registration:
n Government issued photo identification.
n Proof of residency (must live within IPS district).
n Child’s birth certificate.
n Child’s most recent immunization record.
While there will be other opportunities to register for the IPS preschool program, the fair offers the most convenient method. School and community partner representatives will be on site to answer questions and to assist parents/guardians in selecting a site most suitable for their child.
Those who have questions regarding the IPS preschool program can call (317) 226-3912.
Information fairs
