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Warren County outlines 4‑day preschool expansion, transitional kindergarten pilot and new Impact Center
Summary
Warren County Public Schools told lawmakers it restored 4‑day preschool districtwide, opened a standalone Early Learning Academy housing 500+ preschoolers, is piloting transitional kindergarten for children in the 'gap' year, and will open an Impact Center that adds 18 pathways and partners with IBM and Franklin Covey.
Warren County Public Schools leaders told the Interim Joint Committee on Education that expanded early-childhood services and a new career-and-leadership center are central to the district's strategy to increase kindergarten readiness and postsecondary options.
"Back, now entering my 14th year as superintendent," said Rob Clayton, who described the district's Preschool-to-Profession initiative and said the district restored 4 full days of preschool across the system after prior budget-driven reductions. Clayton said the district opened its first standalone Early Learning Academy in August, "where we house more than 500 preschool students," and that across the district they serve "more than 800 students." He added the district now spends about $1,600,000 to support the four-day preschool model and increased preschool staff from 21 to 42 teachers.
Dr. Sarah Johnson described operational elements at the Early Learning Academy — themed playgrounds, a culinary lab, an innovation lab and immersive early leadership work — and said the district is piloting a transitional kindergarten to serve children who turn 5 by Aug. 1 but whose families feel they are not yet ready for traditional kindergarten. "This would allow those students to become kindergarten ready and have this bridge year between preschool and kindergarten," Dr. Johnson said, and she noted about 80 families initially expressed interest.
Clayton also previewed the Impact Center for Leadership and Innovation, a 7–12 center with five academies and 18 pathways designed in partnership with local industry and national partners such as IBM Global and Franklin Covey. The superintendent said the center will include both merit-based seats and random-draw admissions (about "70% of the students enrolled into this school were random draw"), and reported the district received over 2,000 applications for roughly 750 full-time spots. He said the center will add roughly 18 pathway offerings beginning the next school year and emphasized partnerships with local business and United Way to broaden access.
Lawmakers pressed on funding eligibility, counts and equity. Representative Tipton asked whether transitional kindergarten students would be counted in the state's kindergarten funding; Clayton replied, "They would be." Several members raised concerns about English-language learners and about whether expanded district services could affect private childcare providers; Clayton said the district partners with local providers and United Way and expects to coordinate services rather than supplant local capacity.
The presentation concluded with committee members praising Warren County's work and with Clayton offering to provide supporting studies and data to interested legislators.
