Friday, September 14, 2007
Governor Culver Announces Additional Districts Awarded Preschool Funds
Eleven more districts to receive Statewide Voluntary Preschool for 4-year-old funds
DES MOINES, Iowa – Today, Governor Chet Culver announced that 11 more Iowa public school district applications will be funded for a Statewide Voluntary Preschool for 4-year-old program. This will increase the total number of districts funded through a $15 million legislative allocation to 63 districts.
“After traveling the state and seeing firsthand the positive impact of the new preschool initiative, I am very pleased to announce that 11 additional quality preschools will receive funding this year,” said Governor Culver. “This announcement is great news for Iowa’s children and our state’s future. Back in January we promised to increase access to quality preschool for our kids, and I’m thrilled that even more school districts will be able to benefit from the program this year.”
In July, the Iowa Department of Education awarded 52 districts funds to provide at least 10 hours a week of quality preschool instruction through collaborative community partnerships. Funds for the program will be distributed to public school districts based on enrollment count. Through the application process, each district projected the number of students it would serve through the program. On Sept. 4, each awardee reported the actual enrollment count. The overall enrollment count was lower than initially projected, providing for a second tier of districts to be funded from the total $15 million allocation.
The additional 11 districts are:
Centerville Community School District
Central Decatur Community School District
Clarke Community School District
Eagle Grove Community School District
East Union Community School District
Eddyville-Blakesburg Community School District
Keokuk Community School District
Nishna Valley Community School District
Oskaloosa Community School District
Walnut Community School District
Wayne Community School District
The new districts must follow the same requirements as other awarded districts. The selected districts will not need to reapply next school year. After the first year, funding for the approved preschool programs will move into a preschool aid formula based upon the prior year’s enrollment.
The statewide voluntary preschool program for 4-year-old children was established on May 10, 2007 when the Governor signed House File 877. The 2007 legislature appropriated $15 million for 2007-2008, which is the first of four years school districts may apply for funding under the program. The purpose of statewide preschool program is to expand the opportunity for Iowa’s young children to access quality preschool environments and enter school ready to learn. The program is helping the state move toward its goal of 90 percent participation of Iowa’s 4-year-olds in quality preschool programming supported by state and federal funds by 2011.
The Iowa Department of Education works with the State of Iowa Board of Education to provide oversight, supervision and support for the state education system, which includes public elementary and secondary schools, nonpublic schools that receive state accreditation, area education agencies, community colleges and teacher preparation programs. The department is committed to high levels of learning, achievement and performance for all students, so they will become successful members of their community and the workforce.