Referendum-funded early learning expansion doubles pre-K access; district reports large gains in kindergarten readiness
Summary
District officials reported the 2023 referendum more than doubled access to MCCSC early learning (3- and 4-year-old programs), increased community-provider partnerships, and that pre-K assessment data showed kindergarten-readiness rising from 19% at the start to 83% at the end of the previous school year.
Dr. Dowling told the board that the 2023 referendum-funded expansion has more than doubled access to MCCSC early learning programs, increasing combined 3- and 4-year-old enrollment from 262 to 526 students and expanding partnerships with community providers. The district said 100% of pre-K students attend at full or reduced cost and that 75% of 3-year-old preschool students attend for free under the referendum expansion.
Dr. Dowling highlighted assessment results using the I-ESPC observational tool: at the start of the prior school year, 19% of pre-K students met kindergarten-readiness benchmarks; by the end of the year 83% met those benchmarks, a gain Dr. Dowling described as “exceptional student growth.” She said kindergarten teachers report students entering with better preparedness, confidence and classroom skills this year, and that most pre-K students matriculate into MCCSC kindergarten (an estimated 85–95 percent).
The expansion includes full-day pre-K at district elementary schools and support for community providers; Dr. Dowling said the district is continuing its infant and toddler programs at two early learning centers. She also noted statewide cuts to CCDF have created long wait lists elsewhere and that MCCSC’s referendum funding has helped the district avoid that service gap locally.
Provenance: The early learning presentation and data were delivered beginning at 01:43:46 and continued through follow-up questions at 01:51:37.
