Thursday's Internet Edition, August 28, 2008.
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Brilliant blue sky and a flowering tree provide a spring backdrop for the memorial fountain at Spencer's Heritage Park. Temperatures earlier this week reached the high 70s. |
By DAVID HEDGES
Publisher - Things are changing in the world of pre-school education.
But if all goes as planned, pre-school students and their parents may never know the difference.
Lines between pre-school programs offered in the county school system, the federally funded Headstart program and even private daycare centers are being blurred.
“We are required to blend our students and blend our funding,” Doris Weekley, assistant superintendent and curriculum director for Roane County Schools, said.
Weekley said the Roane school system has been offering pre-school programs for at least 12 to 15 years. The first programs were for special needs students and some regular education students who served as “norming peers.”
Currently, there are just over 100 students in the county’s pre-school program, Weekley said, including a home-based program that is being eliminated
Pre-school also is offered by the federally-funded Headstart program, which is income-based, and state licensed daycare centers such as Building Blocks in Spencer.
What is called Universal Pre-K is supposed to be fully implemented by 2012, Weekley said, but changes are already being made.
“Right now the biggest change is we are planning for 160 spots for 3- and 4-year-olds next year,” Weekley said.
In accordance with State Board of Education Policy 2525, pre-school education on the county level is being governed by a Pre-K Collaborative, which includes representatives from the school system, Headstart, the state Dept. of Health and Human Services and other agencies, along with teacher and parent representatives.
Weekley said the goal of the policy is for pre-school providers to blend their funding and “get the most bang for the buck.”
The county currently has two Headstart centers, one at the Committee on Aging in Spencer and another at Gandeeville Community Church.
Weekley said next year Headstart will not be offered in Gandeeville. Instead, a second pre-school classroom is being added at Walton Elementary/Middle School.
She said the school at Walton is already offering a collaborative pre-school program, with a teacher provided by the Headstart program and another employed by the county school system.
Once the program is implemented, students will no longer be identified as “Headstart” students.
“In some people’s minds there are certain stigmas attached to certain labels, and we just don’t want to label children,” she said.
“Next year you won’t know who is a Headstart child and who is not,” she said. “It will all be Pre-K.”
Four-year-olds are not required to attend pre-school, but any student who turns four by Sept. 1 is eligible.
“Parents don’t have to send their kids,” Weekley said. “But our kindergarten teachers tell me they can see a real difference in the kids who have attended pre-school.”
Three-year-olds are also eligible, but only if they fall into a “special–needs” category and have an IEP, which is education-speak for an individualized education plan.
Another difference next year is that pre-school students will attend four days a week, instead of only two days as some do now.
The 160 slots will include 40 each at Spencer Elementary and Walton, and 20 each at Geary Elementary/Middle and Reedy Elementary. There will also be 20 at Building Blocks and 20 at the COA, where the Spencer Headstart Center now operates.
Weekley said the school system has been providing a teacher to Building Blocks for the past few years.
Registration for the pre-school program is scheduled for the week of May 5-8 at sites in Walton, Newton, Reedy and Spencer. As was the case for kindergarten registration this year, pre-school students must have a well-child check-up by a health care provider. She said local doctors’ offices have the necessary forms.
Weekley said she is hoping no child is turned away because of a lack of space.
“We really don’t know what to expect,” she said. “We’ve had 60 parents just in the Spencer area call already.”
Weekley said parents with questions about the changes may call her office at 927-6411 or the Roane County Pre-school office at 927-6441.
“There will be a few bumps in the road along the way, but we’ll work them out,” Weekley said. “I think it’s going to be a win-win situation for the kids.”
