District 58 receives Preschool for All grant from state

The state of Illinois has awarded Downers Grove Grade School District 58 a $120,000 Preschool for All grant to educate at-risk early childhood students.

This grant will benefit the 60 students in District 58’s Grove Children’s Preschool program who have been identified as at risk for future academic difficulties due to socio-economic or cultural factors. The goal of the at-risk program is to ensure that those students enter kindergarten with a similar set of experiences and activities to other District 58 children.

Since 1996, District 58 had received full funding for its at-risk program annually through the state’s Early Childhood Block Grant. This year for the first time, at-risk programs across the state were required to compete for funds through a rigorous, intensive application process.

“We are particularly pleased to be able to continue to serve our at-risk children through our Grove Children’s Preschool program, at no cost to those families,” said Terrence Martin, District 58’s Assistant Superintendent for Special Services. “The families truly rely on this funding to provide their child access to early childhood education, which research has shown to be crucial in preparing at-risk students for a successful school experience.”

District 58 applied for a $150,000 grant, which would have fully funded the at-risk component of its preschool program. Knowing the importance of providing a high-quality, developmentally-appropriate early childhood education for at-risk students, the District will allocate $30,000 of its 2011-12 budget to cover the shortfall.

“We are very grateful to the Illinois State Board of Education and our own Board of Education for recognizing the importance of a high-quality early childhood program, and for providing the means to allow the Grove Children’s Preschool program to continue to meet that need in our community,” Martin said.

District 58’s Grove Children’s Preschool is a blended program, meaning that tuition students, students identified as having special education needs, and at-risk students are taught in the same classroom. The goal of the Grove Children’s Preschool program is to meet the developmental and individual needs of all children in a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment, while promoting educational success through engaging and collaborative learning experiences.

Classes take place at Indian Trail School and Henry Puffer School. For more information about the program, contact the preschool coordinator, James Swade, at (630) 968-0454.