Mesa Public Schools outlines growth, partnerships and inclusion goals for preschool program

Mesa Public Schools officials told the governing board on Feb. 12 that the district’s preschool program has grown to about 2,700 enrolled children and emphasized inclusive placements, partnerships and next‑year budget planning.

The presentation, led by Lisa Grotting, director of early childhood, reviewed program size, classroom types, retention and community partners and said the district will shortly host three Bezos Academy classrooms that will provide full‑day year‑round preschool at no cost to qualifying families.

District leaders said preschool expansion matters because high‑quality early learning is linked to later reading proficiency and long‑term economic benefits. Grotting told the board Mesa’s program emphasizes inclusion for children with disabilities: 96% of Mesa preschool special‑education students are served in inclusive classroom settings, compared with an Arizona state average cited in the presentation of 40.3%.

Board members were given a breakdown of program sites and classroom types. Mesa’s early‑learning portfolio currently includes 90 total preschool classrooms: 78 AM/PM half‑day inclusion sessions placed across 37 Title I elementary schools, four full‑day preschool classrooms located on high‑school campuses, several STEM enrichment classrooms and six Montessori preschools housed at Scribe Montessori Center and Busch Elementary. Class sizes vary by site; half‑day inclusion classrooms serve up to 17 students (10 typically developing peers and 7 students with disabilities), while full‑day preschool classes range from 18 to 22 students.

Grotting told the board that Mesa’s Title I estimated allocation for preschool in fiscal year 2025–26 is $6,636,000. She also described enrollment trends: the program served about 2,000 students in 2021–22, moved to full inclusion across programs in 2023–24 without adding FTE, and had approximately 2,700 enrolled as of Feb. 12; the presentation projected enrollment could exceed 2,783 by May.

Speakers highlighted partnerships supporting access and family engagement. Mesa K Ready programming — a partnership with the City of Mesa and the Mesa Public Schools Foundation — provides parent workshops and resources. The district also partners with Arizona State University for staff professional learning, with Head Start providers for itinerant special‑education supports, and with community groups for events such as dental checkups and technology giveaways. Grotting said Bezos Academy plans to open preschool sites at Poston Junior High, Fremont Junior High and O'Connor Elementary, each serving up to 180 full‑day students year‑round at no cost to families whose income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty level.

Board members asked follow‑up questions about whether the district could expand tuition assistance or other partnerships to make Montessori programming affordable for low‑income families. Grotting said the district has not yet pursued a formal plan for tuition assistance tied to Montessori offerings and agreed to explore options. Superintendent Strom said staff would prepare a financial analysis of preschool programming to show revenues and expenses and to help the board weigh investment choices amid constrained discretionary funds.

Board members also praised the continuity benefits for special‑needs students who attend preschool on the elementary campus and recommended the district place preschool prioritization and partnership strategy on a future board retreat agenda.

The presentation included enrollment and retention data, site lists and sample parent testimony provided to the board. District staff asked the board for continued support as they finalize next year’s placements and partnerships.