Parents and staff urge District 28 to preserve Young Explorers inclusive early‑childhood program

Dozens of teachers, related‑service staff and parents addressed the Northbrook SD 28 Board of Education on Feb. 25 to urge the district to sustain the Young Explorers early‑childhood program and to find ways to boost enrollment.

The speakers described Young Explorers as an inclusion‑focused preschool that pairs typical peers with at‑risk and special‑education students. “We are here to express our concerns about the trajectory of our program as well as our hope that we can work hand in hand with the district to continue to uphold the beliefs and practices of the Young Explorers,” said Siya Drakoulis, a blended early‑childhood teacher who told the board she has worked in the program for eight years.

Why it matters: Speakers said the program provides related services (speech, occupational therapy, social work), a team of certified teachers, and a structured blended model that families and staff credit with preparing children for kindergarten and improving social‑emotional…