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Monroe board approves new preschool curriculum; district plans phased purchase and training
Summary
The board approved the district’s purchase of a locally developed preschool curriculum (Joyful Discoveries) after a presentation on alignment with state guidance, time constraints of a half‑day program, and funding sources. The district will buy teacher manuals this year and schedule further professional development next year.
MONROE, Ohio — Monroe Local Schools on April 28 approved a new preschool curriculum the district says better fits its half‑day model and state requirements.
Nancy Stratton, preschool coordinator, told the board the selection team reviewed curricula after the Ohio Departments of Children and Youth and Education and Workforce released guidance requiring programs to align with the science of reading, early learning standards and the Step Up To Quality list. The team evaluated Frog Street, Scholastic Pre‑K and Joyful Discoveries (a local curriculum developed by Mount Saint Joe) and reached consensus to select Joyful Discoveries because it appears on all three lists and offers flexible, theme‑based units that fit the district’s schedule.
Stratton described the model as 12 theme‑based units with whole‑group, small‑group and center activities, plus two intervention components. She said the curriculum’s academic instructional time (typically 60–90 minutes) and in‑person professional development from the local developer make it a better fit than some national packages that are more time‑intensive.
Cost and funding: Stratton reported immediate costs for this year include teacher manuals and a half‑day professional‑development overview. She estimated materials and initial units for three classrooms at about $14,593, to be paid primarily from the district’s preschool federal grant and existing general‑fund PD allocations. Additional PD, coaching and remaining materials next school year were estimated at up to $15,028; Stratton said she will allocate at least $5,000 from the preschool federal grant in July and use general‑fund supply money to cover remaining costs. She gave a total program estimate of $21,793 for planning purposes.
The board approved the recommendation “to purchase and approve the preschool curriculum as presented by Nancy Stratton.” The motion was moved by Mrs. Hagedorn and seconded by Mister Fulham; the roll call was unanimous (Aye: Grant, Fulham, Hagedorn, Leeds, Carpenter).
Stratton told the board the district had paused curriculum selection last year until state guidance was released in January 2025 and emphasized the district must demonstrate implementation fidelity during Step Up To Quality classroom observations. She said the chosen curriculum’s local basis makes in‑person PD and ongoing coaching feasible.
The board did not change the district’s preschool schedule (half‑day); officials said this adoption was chosen to work within existing daily time constraints.
