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Fayette County reports preschool enrollment rebound, mobile classroom growth and plans for expansion
Summary
Dr. Whitney Stevenson told the Equity Council Committee that state-funded preschool enrollment is recovering toward pre‑COVID levels, the district is expanding mobile preschool services and has added a paraeducator to every classroom; KDE reporting counts and a pending All STARS rating were described as drivers for funding and program planning.
Dr. Whitney Stevenson presented Fayette County Public Schools’ early childhood update to the Equity Council Committee on May 6, reporting rising enrollment in state-funded preschool, expanded mobile-classroom services and steps the district is taking to prepare for future funding and program growth.
Stevenson said December 1 counts—used by the Kentucky Department of Education to set per‑pupil rates—showed 1,142 students reported this cycle, comprised of about 612 income-based slots and about 530 students with disabilities (the latter category is what the state report isolates). She told the committee that the district’s December 1 count has increased from 1,058 the prior December and is approaching a pre‑COVID level of roughly 1,200.
Stevenson described assessment and outcomes reporting for the 2023–24 school year using the AEPS (Assessment, Evaluation, and Programming System) and federal child-outcome summaries. She said exit data showed 75% of exiting preschoolers met benchmarks for positive social-emotional skills, 76% met acquisition-of-knowledge benchmarks and 80% met appropriate behavior outcomes, as reported to KDE.
The district completed the All STARS quality review process April 30 and uploaded documentation for Star ratings; Stevenson said the state will assign star ratings to each preschool location this summer. She also said the district’s mobile preschool classroom has served more than 120 children and their families this year and that the preschool program has added an additional paraeducator to every classroom to support high-need students.
On facilities and timeline, Stevenson said the Harrison Elementary preschool expansion is in planning and could open in August 2026. She outlined a two‑generation approach that includes family supports—examples include connecting caregivers to English learning classes and distributing books through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and community outreach such as a “5‑5‑5” campaign encouraging five minutes of focused literacy activities at three points in the day.
Stevenson said the district will not know exact per‑pupil rates until KDE finalizes summer calculations; she described the December 1 and March 1 counts as the statutory reporting points used to determine funding.
Committee members asked about the mobile-classroom model for infants and toddlers, preschool choice and kindergarten placement; Stevenson said the mobile bus uses age‑appropriate, carpeted learning areas and blankets for infants and that preschool enrollment does not determine kindergarten assignment. She said the district refers families who do not meet state income thresholds to Head Start and to community childcare resources and helps connect families to available programs.
No formal action was taken during the presentation; Stevenson agreed to share the board presentation with committee members on request.
