District presents 4K and early childhood review, proposes full‑day pilot and inclusion adjustments

District administrators and early learning staff briefed the board on the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District's 4K and early childhood programs, presenting enrollment data, program structure, evaluations and next-step recommendations.

Katie Kavanaugh, 4K principal, Gina Steele, early childhood interventionist, Cindy Malcheski, director of special education, and Deputy Superintendent Sherry Seibero gave a detailed account of program sites, community partnerships, curricula and assessments. They noted steady long-term 4K enrollment but a district participation rate lower than neighboring districts (about 64–71% attendance of district kindergarten cohorts, compared with 84–95% elsewhere).

Kavanaugh said the district operates a voluntary, two-and-a-half hour 4K program for district students who are four by the start of the year, with co-taught co-planned sessions at the Early Learning Center (ELC) for mixed general education and special education students. Eight community partner sites…