Gary J. Steinert,
Program Administrator
Mandy Kreps,
Teacher
Heather Smith,
Paraprofessional |
The Whiteside County Regional Office of Education, in partnership with East
Coloma School District #12, Riverdale School District #14, and Montmorency
Community Consolidated School District #145, submitted an application for
funding to the Illinois State Board of Education Early Childhood Block Grant to
establish a pre-kindergarten program that would serve children ages 3-5 years
residing in the 3, K-8 districts.
Approval was received in August 2004, and the Jump Start classroom opened in
October 2004.Students are selected for the program through a screening
process, using the DIAL-3, which includes vision and hearing evaluation. The
children attend school 5 days per week for 2 1/2 hours per day. Two classes,
morning and afternoon, are offered each day with a maximum of twenty children
per class.
The “Creative Curriculum for Preschool” is used as well as its on-going
developmental assessment instruments. This comprehensive curriculum aligns with
Illinois’ Early Learning Standards and provides the needed structure for the
program designed to reduce the level of remediation services needed in the
future at each school and fully prepare the at-risk students for kindergarten
and beyond.
Parent/guardian conferences are held quarterly to keep them informed of their
child’s progress. Parent workshops, parent/child activities, and field trips are
planned throughout the year. Families are invited to use the Whiteside County
Parents As Teachers Toy Lending Library and receive an educational newsletter
each month.
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