By Chief Academic Officer Kristen Hole presented information regarding the need for expanding the district’s pre-Kindergarten program, and cited studies that show that students are 30% more likely to achieve 3rd grade reading mastery and attend a 2nd year of college instruction.
A proposed investment of $200 million is required to add 4,000 Pre-K seats as follows:
- Rebuild 700 existing seats in the program
- Optimize space for 2,100 additional seats
- Utilize unused land to create 800 additional seats
- Build new early childhood center with 400 seats
- Focus on areas with largest unmet demands
