Prep school for kindergarteners

<p>Beginning next fall, Petaluma parents will have an option for children who might not quite be ready for kindergarten because of a socio-economic situation or simply because they are slightly too young to meet state requirements. </p><p>A new Kinder-Prep program offers parents a choice between enrolling their children in the traditional kindergarten program, or in a two-year transitional program that will allow children a first year to acclimate to the school environment and more fully develop their social and academic skills.</p><p>It will also allow children who just miss the age cut off to start school at the same time as their counterparts. By state law, a child must turn 5 years old on or before Nov. 1, 2012 to be eligible for kindergarten next August. Any child that turns 5 in 2012 will be eligible for Kinder-Prep. However, children born between Sept. 2 and Nov. 1 will be given priority for the Kinder-Prep program. </p><p>Jane Escobedo, director of educational services for the Petaluma City Schools, explained that the birthdate for kindergarten eligibility will slide forward a month each year for the next two years, but children will still be eligible for Kinder-Prep if they were born anytime during the appropriate calendar year. </p><p>According to Escobedo, a transitional kindergarten program was mandated by state law, but was not funded by a state budget update in January, leaving school districts in limbo. </p><p>“We decided to go forward,” Escobedo said. “We will collect ADA (average daily attendance) from the state, and we will have a break-even program. We couldn't do it if it didn't break even.”</p><p>Petaluma City Schools District Board President Mary Schafer said the program fills a need in the community, but emphasized that it must prove to be self-sufficient.</p><p>“It is really good timing,” she said, “if we can arrange it so it pays for itself. It would have been nice if the state had supported it financially.” </p><p>Like other Petaluma City Schools classroom education, Kinder-Prep classes are part of the public school system and are free for families.</p><p>Classes will be taught by credentialed teachers. Escobedo said the curriculum will be “developmentally appropriate and play based.”</p><p>Child care before and after class will be offered. “The child care will match parent work hours,” Escobedo said, adding that it will be as affordable as possible, “less than $200 a month.”</p><p>Kinder-Prep will be offered only at McKinley Elementary School. There will be two classes, a morning class from 8:45 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. and an afternoon class from noon to 3 p.m. </p><p>While the program is new to Petaluma, it is not a new concept. </p><p>“We studied other school districts where it has been successful and modeled our program on what has worked in other areas,” Escobedo explained. Mark West School District, Healdsburg and Windsor all have similar programs.</p><p>“It will help the community by providing high-quality child care, as well as high-quality pre-kindergarten education,” Escobedo maintained. “It will be revenue neutral, so it might save a couple of teachers' jobs.”</p><p>Registration for kindergarten and Kindergarten-Prep is currently underway. Parents should register children at their neighborhood school.</p><p>(Contact John Jackson at johnie.jackson@argus courier.com)</p>