Rotary-backed Preschool for Success reports higher early literacy and math scores, but waiting list persists

Amy Tromley and Gayla Holmgren, community volunteers from Rotary, told the St. Cloud Area School District Board of Education that the Rotary-led Preschool for Success partnership has raised more than $100,000 this year and is showing measurable early academic gains for participating children.

The program began as a Rotary signature project and has combined fundraising, volunteer “boots on the ground,” and partnership with District 742 staff and community organizations to place preschool classrooms in district elementary schools and community sites. “For every dollar invested in preschool, there’s a $16 return to the community,” Amy Tromley said while describing the Rotary club’s rationale for the project.

Why it matters: Board members said the program addresses access barriers and can improve long-term outcomes if sustained. Presenters and staff emphasized that state-level funding will be required to scale the model beyond the local pilot and that Rotary’s original exit…