Thursday, September 19, 2024
HOWARD-SUAMICO – The Howard-Suamico School Board shed light on its newly-launched full-day 4K pilot program at its most recent meeting.
This early look into the program offers a glimpse into its objectives and initial developments.
The district is experimenting with this expanded program to explore its potential benefits and challenges and to assess its impact on the future of early childhood education.
The pilot program marks a pivotal moment for the district. Mark Smith, superintendent, emphasized the experimental nature of this initiative.
“It’s truly a pilot,” Smith noted, stressing that the district has yet to decide its long-term direction.
The outcomes of this trial will be crucial in shaping future educational strategies.
The district set up a lottery system, selecting 24 students to participate.
The program will employ a research-based educational approach focusing on hands-on learning and real-world application, integrated through meaningful play.
This method aims to foster not just academic skills, but also social and emotional development.
Additional features of the pilot include opportunities to engage with other areas of the school, like music, physical education and the library.
The program is designed to deepen connections within the school community and smooth the transition into kindergarten.
Chelsea Levash, a representative from the 4K program at Forest Glen, said she is particularly excited about the potential for project-based learning and the chance for students to connect with adults in the building, enhancing mentorship and leadership opportunities.
The decision to explore a full-day 4K program was driven by a combination of factors.
A comprehensive evaluation conducted during the 2019-20 school year included survey data, focus groups and an assessment of overall program delivery.
One of the key recommendations reported was significant parental demand for increased flexibility.
“Parents were looking for options,” Smith said, reflecting the community’s desire for a more varied approach to early childhood education.
To measure the success of the program, the district will use several evaluation tools.
Family satisfaction will be gauged through surveys conducted twice during the year, and input will be collected during parent-teacher conferences.
Learning outcomes will be assessed and compared to half-day students.
The district faces challenges as it moves forward.
“Frankly, [finances] is why you don’t see a lot of school districts doing full-day 4K. From a financial reimbursement standpoint, it is challenging,” the representative explained.
“Space is our biggest challenge. We do not have open classrooms in all our buildings just to simply bring them back into their residential school district.”
Despite these obstacles, board members remain optimistic about the program’s potential benefits.
They recognize the advantages it could provide for 4K students and are eager to see how the initiative unfolds.
The district’s commitment to evaluating and overcoming these challenges will be crucial in determining the program’s long-term success.
Levash assured board members that the district would be considerate of daycares and their role in the community.
“We will take the impact this could have on them into account,” she said.
As of now, daycare enrollment has not changed, reported Levash.
The program has sparked considerable enthusiasm, with 89 families expressing interest in just 24 available spots.
“I don’t anticipate that demand to diminish,” Smith noted, emphasizing the strong community interest in expanded early education options.
This level of engagement highlights the program’s potential impact and the community’s eagerness for innovative educational solutions.
As the pilot program continues, the district plans to revisit its findings in winter or early spring.
This review will help determine whether to maintain, expand or eliminate parts of the program based on its effectiveness and community needs.
