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Tempe Pre program reports high enrollment, quality ratings and family benefits
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Summary
City staff reported that Tempe Pre is operating near capacity, has achieved Quality First ratings, and shows positive outcomes for children and families including improved kindergarten readiness and increased parental workforce participation.
Mary Maizey, deputy director for Well‑Being and Empowerment in the Community Health and Human Services Department, and Alicia Tunstall, Tempe Pre supervisor, presented an update on Tempe Pre, the city’s full‑day preschool program.
Tunstall said Tempe Pre has served 1,873 children and families to date and is currently at about 98% capacity. She said 81% of enrolled families receive financial assistance and that 95 Tempe residents receive city‑funded full tuition spots while 11 residents receive half‑tuition city‑funded spots. "Tempe Pre has served a total of 1,873 children and families to date," she said, and noted that enrollment figures reflect end‑of‑year counts while actual student turnover can be higher during the school year.
The program participates in the statewide Quality First rating system; Tunstall noted one site recently earned a 4‑star rating. Tempe Pre positions create about 34 local jobs for teaching teams, staff said. The presentation cited longitudinal evaluation findings that students who attended Tempe Pre started kindergarten with stronger receptive vocabulary and social‑emotional skills; staff also noted results from a Summer Kindergarten Readiness Program showing literacy gains during a seven‑week session.
Family outcomes from a 2023–24 parent survey were highlighted: 99% of responding families reported being satisfied to very satisfied with Tempe Pre, and 58% of families reported the program enabled them to return to work. Staff described classroom practices including Conscious Discipline, a trauma‑responsive approach to social‑emotional learning, and noted partnerships with Kids Zone, the Tempe library and Park Rangers for classroom visits.
Tunstall said enrollment for the 2025–26 school year opens Jan. 16 and that Tempe Pre will host a year celebration for children and families in April. Councilmembers praised the program’s outcomes, cited its economic and educational benefits and encouraged colleagues to visit classrooms.
