(Des Moines)– Some local school districts have been awarded state funding for 2008-2009 through the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program for four-year-old children.
The program was established in 2007 as the result of House File 877. The purpose of the program is to expand the opportunity for Iowa’s young children to access quality preschool environments and enter school ready to learn.
Locally, funding was awarded to the Harris-Lake Park, Okoboji and Sheldon community school districts.
A total of 161 school districts applied for the grant. The Iowa Department of Education selected the districts to receive the funding based on several criteria.
The 2008 legislature appropriated 15 million dollars for 2008-2009, which is the second school year the preschool program has been available to Iowa school districts.
