November 2, 2024

LSR7’s Great Beginnings Pre-Kindergarten Program opened nine classrooms this school year in the north end of Prairie View Elementary.

The journey to launching a pre-K program began last year when the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) identified the need in our community. The group studied different pre-K programs – including the one in North Kansas City – weighed the pros and cons of full- and half-day classes and brought their recommendation to the board for approval in February 2024.

The program serves four-year-old students living within district boundaries who will enter kindergarten next year. Eight classrooms are full-day and one classroom hosts a morning and afternoon half-day class. Each class has 20 students, one certified teacher and at least one paraprofessional.

Director of Student Support Dr. Jesi Cygan oversees the program’s development and Katie Burt is the pre-K program’s director.

The classroom renovation and curriculum costs were covered thanks to a Start Up grant from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Another grant, the Missouri Quality Pre-K Local Education Agency grant, provided an additional surprise for the families of the inaugural pre-K class: free tuition.

Telling the families who enrolled in the program was especially memorable for Dr. Cygan. “It was really special to be able to see their reactions to say, ‘wow, you have this money back in your pocket’,” she said.

The pre-K program is some of our students’ first experience in the classroom and is vital to preparing children to be lifelong learners.

“They come in maybe not having any school experience at all, and they leave feeling confident, feeling ready, they have new friends, they’re excited about school,” said Burt. “It’s really amazing to see where they start and how far they come.”

The pre-K program is currently full. Information about the 2025-26 school year will be available in the Spring. Students turning four by July 31, 2025 will be eligible to enroll next year.