Monday, June 9, 2008
Governor Culver Announces Statewide Preschool Grants
48 Districts Approved to Increase Access for 4-Year-Olds to Quality Preschool
(Des Moines, IA) – Today, Governor Chet Culver announces the names of the 48 school districts in Iowa receiving state funds for 2008-2009 under the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program for Four-Year-Old Children.
The Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program for Four-Year-Old Children was established in 2007 when Governor Culver signed House File 877. 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. With these newly approved programs, the state will be providing access to approximately 4,341 more 4-year-olds.
Governor Culver said, “Every child in Iowa deserves the best start as they begin their educational journey. With this announcement, we are offering a greater number of Iowa’s youngest citizens the opportunity for a solid beginning.”
Districts applied for the competitive state grant to provide at least 10 hours a week of quality preschool instruction through collaborative community partnerships. A total of 161 school districts applied for the grant. The Iowa Department of Education selected the school districts to receive funding based on several criteria. Priority was given to high-poverty districts currently without preschool programs. Also considered were collaborative efforts with community early childhood partners and district size.
The 2008 legislature appropriated $15 million for 2008-2009, which is the second school year the preschool program has been available to Iowa school districts.
The selected districts are:
AHST Community School District
Albia Community School District
Battle Creek-Ida Grove Community School District
Camanche Community School District
Carroll Community School District
Cedar Rapids Community School District
Central Community School
Chariton Community School District
Clarksville Community Schools
Clinton Community School District
Coon Rapids-Bayard Community School District
Creston Community Schools
Davis County Community School District
Dubuque Community School District
East Buchanan Community School District
East Central Community School District
Edgewood-Colesburg Community School District
English Valleys Community School District
Fort Dodge Community School District
Glidden-Ralston Community School District
Green Mountain Garwin Community School District
Griswold Community School District
Hamburg Community School District
Harris-Lake Park Community Schools
Howard-Winneshiek Community School District
Hubbard-Radcliffe Community School District
Laurens-Marathon Community School District
Maquoketa Valley Community School District
Mason City Community School District
Midland Community School District
Moravia Community School District
Murray Community Schools
Nodaway Valley Community School District
North Mahaska Community School
Oelwein Community School District
Okoboji Community Schools
Pleasantville Community Schools
Rockwell City-Lytton Community School District
Sheldon Community School District
Southeast Webster-Grand Community School District
Twin Rivers Community School District
Valley Community School District
Van Buren Community Schools
Washington Community School District
Webster City Community Schools
West Burlington Independent Community School District
West Central Valley Community School District
Whiting Community Schools