Alabama looks to expanding pre-K classrooms

1 year ago 31

LATEST INDICTMENT. WE APPRECIATE YOU, AMY. WELL, BACK TO SCHOOL. THE STATE’S NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PRE-K PROGRAM IS EXPANDING AT A LOCAL SCHOOL, IS BENEFITING WVTM13’S PATSY DOUGLAS IS JOINING US LIVE. PATSY, THERE’S A NEW CLASSROOM AT LEEDS PRIMARY SCHOOL RIGHT NOW. HOW IS MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS EXPANSION MADE POSSIBLE. WELL, THE SCHOOL THAT GOT HELP FROM THE OFFICE OF SCHOOL READINESS AND THEY’RE PROVIDING THOSE ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS TO MANY HIGH NEED AREAS ACROSS ACROSS THE STATE, ESPECIALLY RIGHT HERE AT LEEDS PRIMARY. THEY’RE ONE OF THOSE TARGET COMMUNITIES RIGHT NOW. THIS YEAR, THEY WERE ABLE TO ADD ANOTHER UNIT OF CLASSROOMS AFTER SEEING A WAITLIST OF STUDENTS NEEDING TO GO TO PRE-K. PRINCIPA OF LEEDS PRIMARY SCHOOL SAYS THIS EXPANDS GOSHEN WILL PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE STUDENTS IN LEEDS AND SURROUNDING AREAS. WE HAVE A LOT OF KIDS THAT JUST ENROLL STRAIGHT INTO KINDERGARTEN AND SOME OF THEM DO A PHENOMENAL JOB AND AND BUT WE DO SEE THAT WHEN THEY GET IN EARLY, THEY’RE ABLE TO LEARN OUR BUILDING, LEARN OUR SCHEDULES AND SOCIALLY INTERACT WITH KIDS. AND YOU JUST SEE THEIR DEVELOPMENT GROW EXPONENTIALLY JUST BASED ON JUST KIND OF BEING HERE. NOW, THE OFFICE OF SCHOOL READINESS PRE-K PROGRAM GROWING FROM 5000 CHILDREN HERE IN OUR STATE IN 2013 TO MORE THAN 27,000 TODAY. SO IT’S A GOOD NEWS TO SEE THAT THOSE KIDS ARE INVOLVED IN PRE-K. OF COURSE, OTHER COUNTIES THAT ARE ON THE LIST RIGHT NOW ARE SHELBY. OTHER SCHOOLS LIKE MOUNT OLIVE AND ALSO BRYAN ELEMENTARY ARE ON THAT LIST WITH GETTING ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM

The state’s nationally recognized pre-K program is expanding, including at local schools like Leeds Primary School. The school got help from the Office of School Readiness, which is funding additional classrooms in high-need areas across Alabama. Leeds Primary School became one of those target communities. This year, they were able to add another unit of classrooms after seeing a waitlist of students needing to go to pre-K. The principal of Leeds Primary School, Steven Porter, says this expansion will provide opportunities for more students in Leeds and surrounding areas. “We have a lot of kids who go straight into kindergarten, and some of them do a phenomenal job, but we do see that when they get in early. They are able to learn our building, learn our schedules. You just see them grow by just them being here," Porter said. The Office of School Readiness pre-K program has grown from 5,000 children in 2013 to more than 27,000 today. Several other schools, like Shelby, Mount Olive and Bryan Elementary, are also on the list and expanding their pre-K classrooms.

LEEDS, Ala. —

The state’s nationally recognized pre-K program is expanding, including at local schools like Leeds Primary School.

The school got help from the Office of School Readiness, which is funding additional classrooms in high-need areas across Alabama. Leeds Primary School became one of those target communities. This year, they were able to add another unit of classrooms after seeing a waitlist of students needing to go to pre-K.

The principal of Leeds Primary School, Steven Porter, says this expansion will provide opportunities for more students in Leeds and surrounding areas.

“We have a lot of kids who go straight into kindergarten, and some of them do a phenomenal job, but we do see that when they get in early. They are able to learn our building, learn our schedules. You just see them grow by just them being here," Porter said.

The Office of School Readiness pre-K program has grown from 5,000 children in 2013 to more than 27,000 today. Several other schools, like Shelby, Mount Olive and Bryan Elementary, are also on the list and expanding their pre-K classrooms.

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