The Park City School District is holding a preschool registration lottery for next school year.
For 10 years, the Park City Education Foundation has funded the school district's core preschool program for three- and four-year-olds. It costs the Ed Foundation about $100,000 per year to finance the program. The demand for affordable, quality preschool is higher than the current capacity. Universal preschool access is not yet available in the Park City School District, although it is one of the primary initiatives of the future of learning master plan.
Park City Education Foundation Executive Director Abby McNulty said there is a profound community benefit for children who attend quality preschool.
"You know, increased graduation rates, years of college completed, lifetime earned income and as well making sure that all kids enter kindergarten on the same level and ready to learn," she said.
McNulty said the research on people who have attended preschool and enter kindergarten ready to learn have life opportunities that children lacking early childhood education do not.
"We also see a huge difference for kids that go through preschool programs ready to learn in kindergarten,” she said. “So, from the very basics of standing in a line, to sitting in a circle, to working out challenges with peers, kids who have preschool come into kindergarten ready to learn. And so, that's really important in our school district, making sure that all kids are coming in with a similar baseline."
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the preschool team has successfully tapped into the Ed Foundation's emergency grant program. This provides quick access to funds for the classroom.
"It has been so fun to see all the great grants that have come in they've asked for,” McNulty said. “For supplies to transition the learning from inside the classroom to outside. So, all the preschool classrooms have these really great tables where kids can learn outside, even in the snow and the cold weather. They go out they've asked for fun things to have a good time in the snow, to encourage the kids to be more active and engaged in the outside environment during this unique year. So, they have little snowshoes. They've got super fun, creative, inventive ways to keep the classroom super fun and interesting and safe."
The Park City School District preschool has limited space with spots secured through the lottery, which closes Friday, Feb. 19. Apply at the Park City School District's website.
KPCW news reports on issues affecting children ages 0 through three years old are brought to you by the early childhood fund at the Park City Community Foundation. For more information, visit earlychildhoodalliance.net
