Superintendent to propose making full‑day four‑year‑old pre‑K free; district reports strong early‑education enrollment

Superintendent Cabral told the School Committee on Sept. 17 that the district has expanded early‑education offerings and will seek committee action in October to make full‑day pre‑K for four‑year‑olds free.

Cabral said the district welcomed about 900 kindergarten and pre‑kindergarten students on Sept. 8. This year Taunton Public Schools has six full‑day pre‑K classrooms spread across five elementary schools, and Bennett School opened its first full‑day pre‑K classroom. Cabral provided current enrollment figures of about 100 pre‑K students, roughly 550 kindergarten students and about 200 students enrolled at Leddy Preschool, and he noted Leddy enrollment may rise as children turn three and become eligible during the year.

Cabral said he plans to bring a commendation to the committee at an October meeting to make the district’s full‑day four‑year‑old pre‑K free for families. He said a successful lottery system is now in place and that making pre‑K free would both increase access for families and could generate additional Chapter 70 state funding for the district.

Why it matters: Expanding access to full‑day pre‑K can affect district enrollment, staffing needs and state funding calculations. Cabral thanked principals and staff for their work during the start of the year and indicated the district will present the formal commendation and any necessary details at an upcoming meeting.

Next steps: The superintendent will present the commendation and related materials to the School Committee in October; the committee accepted the Superintendent’s Report as recorded in the meeting.