Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Additional year is expected to improve education
COLTON — This fall Colton and Uniontown parents have the option to enroll their child for two years of kindergarten instead of one.
The Colton School District began preparation for transitional kindergarten, which is a program for 4-year-olds to attend full-day school.
The district is interviewing candidates for a certified teacher.
“It’s a cool option. We’re excited for it,” said Paul Clark, Colton superintendent. “We already have a solid preschool program. Now we can amp it up even more.”
The new kindergarten offering comes at no cost to parents. Colton’s half-day pre-school for 3-year olds continues at about $400 per month per child.
Transitional kindergarten began 10 years ago in Washington and is for kids who may benefit from a lead-in year of kindergarten with a certified teacher instead of a year of pre-school.
Transitional kindergarten made its way to Colton, in part, because of the work of the previous superintendent Nate Smith when the school board looked into improving early childhood education.
“At the federal level both sides of the aisle and centrists agree that something needs to be done to improve early childhood education, but it never gets solved,” said Clark.
The Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) allowed school districts in the state to run a two-year kindergarten program with funding options to go with it.
“It’s a growing trend,” Clark said.
Prospective students in Colton are screened to determine if they may need or benefit from more preparation before starting regular kindergarten at age five.
Registration for the new program begins later this month. A classroom is designated for its first class in the fall. The Colton district estimates at least six children will be in the first class, with hopes of 10-12.
Clark intends to have a teacher candidate to recommend to the school board at their next meeting on May 27.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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