Lawndale trustees hear plan to expand preschool, LEAP and early‑start services at Carson

District staff on Monday briefed the Lawndale Elementary School District board on expansions and program changes in the district’s preschool and early‑childhood programs at the Carson site, including full‑day state preschool slots, a co‑taught Lawndale Early Advantage Preschool (LEAP) model for students with disabilities, and an Early Start program for infants and toddlers, officials said.

The presentation outlined enrollment, assessment and quality‑rating details and emphasized inclusion and family engagement as the primary drivers behind the changes. "We currently have 162 students," Tierra Brown, the district’s director of preschools and early education, told the board during the presentation.

Brown said the district is operating AM and PM preschool sessions at five sites and has introduced two full‑day programs this school year at Carson and Mitchell. She said the state preschool is serving all eligible 3‑year‑olds in the district service area and that the program is currently rated Tier 3 in Quality Start LA and pursuing recertification toward Tier 4 or 5.

"We are currently in the process of receiving recertification, and we're excited about that," Brown said, noting district targets for teacher qualifications and 1:8…