Iowa Governor Culver Announces Statewide Preschool Grants

52 Districts Approved to Help Increase Access for 4-Year-Olds to Quality Preschool

July 17, 2007 -- (Des Moines) – Today, Iowa Governor Chet Culver is announcing the names of the 52 school districts in Iowa receiving state funds under the new statewide voluntary preschool program for 4-year-old children.

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“Today is a great day for Iowa’s children and Iowa’s future,” said Governor Culver. “In January we promised to increase access to quality preschool for 4-year-olds, and today we are able to deliver on that promise. Today’s announcement means we are going to strengthen tomorrow’s workforce and give more Iowa children hope for a brighter future.”

The statewide voluntary preschool program for 4-year-old children was established on May 10, 2007 when the Governor signed House File 877. The 2007 legislature appropriated $15 million for 2007-2008, which is the first of four years school districts may apply for funding under the program. The purpose of statewide preschool program is to expand the opportunity for Iowa’s young children to access quality preschool environments and enter school ready to learn. The program is helping the state move toward its goal of 90 percent participation of Iowa’s 4-year-olds in quality preschool programming supported by state and federal funds by 2011.

“We congratulate these school districts and commend the Governor’s efforts to expand high quality preschool opportunities to Iowa’s young residents,” State Board of Education Chairman Gene Vincent said. “This has been a priority of the State Board of Education for many years.”

School districts applied for a competitive state grant to provide at least 10 hours a week of quality preschool instruction through collaborative community partnerships. A total of 176 school districts applied for the grant. The Iowa Department of Education selected the school districts to receive funding based House File 877 criteria and considerations, which include current availability of preschool programming in a district, collaborative efforts of community early childhood partners, poverty and district size.

The amount of funding that each district will receive will be based on the amount requested in the application. The selected districts will not need to reapply next school year. After the first year, funding for the approved preschool programs will move into a preschool aid formula based upon the prior year’s enrollment.

The selected districts are:
Adair-Casey Community School District
Allison-Bristow Community School District
Alta Community School District
Anamosa Community School District
Bedford Community School District
Benton Community School District
Boyer Valley Community School District
Burlington Community School District
CAL Community School District
Carlisle Community School District
Center Point-Urbana Community School District
Central City Community School District
Cherokee Community School District
Council Bluffs Community School District
Davenport Community School District
Delwood Community School District
Des Moines Independent Community School District
Durant Community School District
East Marshall Community School District
Eastern Allamakee Community School District
Estherville Lincoln Central Community School District
Garner-Hayfield Community School District
George-Little Rock Community School District
Gilmore City-Bradgate Community School District
Highland Community School District
Iowa City Community School District
Iowa Falls Community School District
Lamoni Community School District
Lenox Community School District
Lewis Central Community School District
Lisbon Community School District
Maple Valley Community School District
Marshalltown Community School District
Melcher-Dallas Community School District
Mid-Prairie Community School District
Mount Ayr Community School District
Muscatine Community School District
Nevada Community School District
North Fayette Community School District
North Scott Community School District
North-Linn Community School District
Perry Community School District
Pocahontas Area Community School District
Rock Valley Community School District
Sioux City Community School District
Southeast Warren Community School District
Starmont Community School District
Storm Lake Community School District
Stratford Community School District
United Community School District
Waterloo Community School District
West Liberty Community School District

Source: Iowa Governor