Partnership Offers Full-Day Preschool for 3-Year-Olds

Full-Day Preschool Partnership Benefits 3-Year-Olds
Posted on 09/15/2017
San Elizario Independent School District and ESC Region 19 Head Start team up to provide three year-old children with full-day preschool.

This partnership, particularly for three year-olds, allows children to attend half-day with Head Start and half-day with Lorenzo G. Loya Primary. This partnership program, allows teachers from both schools to collaborate, identify, and address individual children’s learning needs.

“We’re fortunate to have established this partnership with the support of the San Elizario Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Jeannie Meza-Chavez and other administrators,” Director of Comprehensive Services Ramona Huffman said. “It’s a great advantage to be able to provide children from low-income families with high-quality, full-day preschool in partnership with area school districts to help close the school readiness achievement gap.”

A study by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), finds that the benefits of full-day preschool are significant and long lasting. Results show that children attending full-day programs did better on mathematics and literacy than children in half-day programs. Overall, children who participate in a full-day program score higher on their total school readiness and also benefit in terms of social-emotional and physical health.

“Research shows that disadvantage children who attend full-day preschool have the opportunity to learn and grow at the same pace as their wealthier peers so they will be ready with the skills needed to enter kindergarten,” Preschool Education Program Manager Yvonne Palacio said. “Full-day preschool has long lasting benefits. Children develop a love for learning at an early age, tend to have good attendance and are more likely to stay in school.”

The Head Start program and the school district programs work closely to ensure continuity of services. The programs are similar: all teachers with college degrees, cross-training, and the use of same curriculum.

For more information on full-day preschool, please call 790-4600.