After 14 years of teaching preschool at Paradise Valley Elementary, Raelene Shreve is still thankful her program is there to help prepare children for kindergarten.
"Natrona County is extremely fortunate," Shreve said. "We're really helping the community. We've had lots and lots of support."
Local preschools will see even more support in the coming years, thanks to a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Preschool grant awarded to Natrona County School District.
The district received the grant from the state for the seventh year.
The $825,000 grant will help pay for preschool teacher salaries and benefits, professional development, classroom supplies and fees for program accreditation over the next two years.
Albany County No. 1 and Goshen County district preschool's are also funded through Natrona County's grant.
Preschool programs across Wyoming received a financial boost when the state moved $1.5 million of its TANF money into preschool education seven years ago.
Without TANF funds, approximately 132 Natrona County children would not be able to attend preschool, according to Chris Frude, principal at Paradise Valley Elementary and coordinator for the district's preschool programs.
The number increases to nearly 200 children when including Albany and Goshen's programs, she added.
"It would have a huge impact if we did not have these funds," Frude said.
Shreve said the preschool not only prepares children for kindergarten, but also connects families with the school and community. Parents are required to volunteer five hours each month in her classroom.
Natrona County's free preschools also provide an alternative to leaving children at a daycare while parents or guardians work, she added.
Frude said preschool is one way to help level the playing field for children from low-income families. It exposes the child to a variety of experiences he or she may not have otherwise.
For example, a low-income child may not know how to hold a book or immediately see the connection between words and pictures, Frude explained. Maybe it's because the child isn't read to at home, or maybe it's because the family can't afford books right now.
Not knowing how to hold a book doesn't mean a child from a low-income family isn't loved, Frude stressed.
"It's just that the opportunities have been different," she said. "They don't have the opportunities that are sometimes afforded to children who aren't living in poverty."
Reach Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at Jasa.Santos@trib.com.
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Comments to this story.
fee wrote on Aug 29, 2008 9:11 PM:
this is a bunch of bull. I am a single mother of 4. I am considered very low income. I read to my kids every day at least a couple of books at a time. People who say they cant afford books are just trying to get of parenting. Get a library card. Go to rescued treasures-kids boks are a quarter.
Just because a kid is from a poor family doesnt mean he cant read or wont succeed as easily as a rich kid. Its the parents. Its laziness and uncaring, not money. "
Marc S. wrote on Aug 29, 2008 10:27 PM:
"Just because a kid is from a poor family doesnt mean he cant read or wont succeed as easily as a rich kid. Its the parents. Its laziness and uncaring, not money."
Absolutely 100% true!! Sadly our society has embraced the entitlement – not my responsibility attitude. And guess what? That is exactly where the government wants us. From the local perspective we are witnessing that NCSD has adopted “poverty” as their leading excuses for failing to educate the youth in the core curriculum.
Consider the following questions:
What is NCSD doing to help parents and daycare providers prepare kids for school?
What is NCSD doing to improve parental involvement from pre-school to graduation?
Why does NCSD want to recruit kids at younger ages?
Thanks,
Marc
NCPCE.org "
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