June 18, 2009

Grand Island Public Schools receives early childhood education grant

The Grand Island Public Schools has received a $375,000 grant from the Nebraska Department of Education to expand its Preschool Program by 90 students.

The State Board of Education on June 10 approve more than $1 million for six new or expanded early childhood education programs, including the Grand Island program.

The Grand Island program, which partners with Head Start, serves children ages 3 through 5. The goal of the Grand Island Public Schools Preschool Program is to provide a comprehensive child development program that focuses on education, health, nutrition, family involvement, and family support.
The local preschool program currently serves 330 students and will be able to serve a total of 420 students because of the grant. Classes meet for 3.5 hours, Monday through Thursday. Morning sessions begin at approximately 7:50 a.m., and afternoon sessions begin approximately at noon. Twelve preschool classrooms will be in new location this fall: the school district's recently renamed Early Learning Center at 4360 W. Capital Ave., which is the former Engleman Elementary School building. One preschool classroom will also be located at each of two schools, Gates Elementary School and Lincoln Elementary School, in the fall.

Children and families qualify for the Grand Island Public Schools Preschool Program based on factors such as income, the need to learn English as a second language, and family needs. Children who are eligible for kindergarten (turn 5 on or before Oct. 15) are not eligible for the Preschool Program.
Families with children who may be eligible for the Preschool Program are encouraged to come to the Early Learning Center at 4360 W. Capital Ave. to complete an application.

Approximately 1,400 children ages 3 and 4 reside in the Grand Island area. The Grand Island Public Schools and/or Head Start currently serve about 400 preschool aged children, said Pam Dobrovolny, early childhood supervisor for the Grand Island Public Schools. Another 168 slots are available in licensed preschools within Hall County. After adding up the "slots" that are available to serve preschoolers, more than 800 preschool aged children are left without options for preschool in the Grand Island area.

The grants will allow Nebraska schools to create or expand programs for about 260 at-risk 3- and 4-year-old children. These grants improve educational equity across the state by providing increased access to early childhood education pre-kindergarten programs. Children are served in inclusive environments to better prepare them to enter school and to succeed.

Other grants that were approved were: Diller-Odell Public Schools, $125,000; Educational Service Unit 5 for Deshler Public Schools and Thayer Central Schools, $250,000; Gibbon Public Schools, $75,000; Lincoln Public Schools, $186,000; and Wilber-Clatonia Public Schools, $75,000.
Additional information about early childhood education in Nebraska is available at the Nebraska Department of Education’s Web site for its Office of Early Childhood at www.nde.state.ne.us/ECH/ECH.html.

For more information, contact: Pam Dobrovolny, Early Childhood Supervisor, Early Learning Center, 4360 W. Capital Ave., (308) 385-5655, pdobrovo@gips.org