Preschool to be offered at every Iowa City elementary school

IOWA CITY — In expanding access to early childhood education, half-day preschool options will be available this fall at every elementary school in the Iowa City Community School District — including a free full-day option at three schools for families that qualify.

Eliza Proctor, executive director of elementary schools in the Iowa City district, said the goal is to make sure every child has the opportunity to go to preschool. Preschool enrollment for August is open for families with a child who is turning 4 on or before Sept. 15.

“A high-quality preschool experience is a great foundation to start their educational journey off in a play-based, rich learning environment,” Proctor said.

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Providing free access to preschool is an essential component in closing the achievement gap, educators say. Children who participate in early childhood programming have better health, social-emotional and cognitive outcomes than those who are not able to take part in it.

Students with access to 4-year-old preschool are less likely to repeat a grade, less likely to be identified as having special needs, more prepared academically and more likely to graduate from high school.

With sixth grade being moved this fall from the district’s elementary schools to its middle schools, there is more room at the elementary schools for preschool programs, Proctor said. A multiyear facility plan ensured classrooms were "designed with preschool in mind“ at the elementary schools, she said.

In February 2022, the Iowa City school board approved the plan to move sixth-graders out of elementary schools and into schools with seventh- and eighth-graders.

Half-day morning preschool programs are from 7:55 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Monday through Friday. Half-day afternoon preschool is from noon to 2:55 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Not all elementary schools will offer both morning and afternoon options.

Additionally, some sites also will offer before- and after-school care for preschool students through Champions — a national child care provider — for a fee. These are Gorlaug, Hills, Kirkwood, Shimek and Wickham elementary schools.

The district had begun piloting before- and after-school care for preschool programs in fall 2022 at two elementaries, with the hope of expanding it to continue to make preschool more accessible to families who can’t drop off or pick up children during work hours.

Lemme, Weber and Grant elementary schools will offer full-day preschool. Students of eligible families are able to attend at no cost. For those who don’t meet the income eligibility guidelines for full-day preschool, limited spots are available at a tuition rate of $650 a month. Full-day preschool is from 7:55 a.m. to 2:55 p.m.

About 280 students in the Iowa City Community School District start kindergarten without any preschool experience, Proctor said. About 1,000 kindergartners enter Iowa City schools each fall, she said.

For years, the Iowa City school board — echoing other educators across the state — has asked the Iowa Legislature to fully fund 4-year-old preschool. Preschool currently is funded at half the state’s per-pupil rate for a full day, which is why programs are half-day.

Proctor said it’s something district leaders “really hope for.” Until then, “We can’t wait for other people to make decisions we know are best for kids. That’s why we’re jumping forward,” she said.

The expanded program will offer preschool to about 30 percent more children, she said.

For more information about the Iowa City Community School District’s preschool program, visit iowacityschools.org/students-families/preschool.

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