ISD 622 outlines early‑learning expansion, screening results and pre‑K changes

District 622 officials on the evening’s agenda reviewed the district’s early‑learning programs, described a newly awarded $29,000 grant for social‑emotional learning supports and announced a district selection for a pre‑K curriculum that leaders plan to implement in the fall.

The Office of Early Learning reported that the district currently serves more than 1,000 children in birth‑to‑kindergarten programs and has screened over 600 children to date this school year, with staff projecting the total will exceed 800 by the end of the screening period. The office also said 388 voluntary pre‑K (VPK) slots exist under current allocations and that the district will change the fee status of some pre‑K offerings next year to align with Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) guidance.

District officials said early childhood screening identified multiple areas of need among screened children: roughly 20 referrals for speech support, nearly 17 percent of screened children for developmental needs and about 13 percent for social‑emotional…