Benefits of Early Childhood Education: PreK in a Quality Program
Quality Pre-K plays a crucial role in a child’s overall development. It supports a strong foundation for cognitive, social, and emotional development. These programs provide stimulating environments and activities to support this crucial brain development phase. Early childhood certified teachers foster this development by creating and implementing curriculum that allows for exploration, play, and appropriate instruction.
Research consistently shows that children participating in high-quality Pre-K programs demonstrate better performance throughout their school experiences by attending school more consistently and challenging themselves to participate in more rigorous academic opportunities.
Quality Pre-K experiences also encourage students to cultivate empathy, respect, and cooperation, forming the basis for healthy relationships and positive interactions throughout their lives. A strong foundation in quality early childhood programs sets children on a path to success. The skills developed in this phase enable them to adapt to a variety of learning environments, engage in critical thinking, and develop a love for lifelong learning. Finally, research confirms that children who participate in a quality Pre-K program are more likely to have better career prospects and job stability as adults.
Online enrollment for Pre-K students and any new K-12 student joining Stillwater Public Schools for the first time during the 2024-2025 school year will open on March 26. Families that are entirely new to SPS will be prompted to complete an enrollment form, while those who already have SPS children in the district can login to their campus portal accounts to register, beginning on that date.
Any family enrolling a student new to the district will need a copy of the child’s birth certificate, their shot record, and proof of Stillwater residence – a lease, mortgage statement, or utility bill – to upload during enrollment.
A big part of the annual new student enrollment process is the influx of around 300 pre-kindergarten students. These students must be four years old by September 1, 2024, and must live within the SPS district boundaries. If a family is enrolling a child into the district for the first time at the kindergarten level, that child must be five years old by September 1.
“SPS is proud to offer Pre-K classes at all of our elementary schools and our intergenerational program at Golden Oaks Village, and we’re excited to help families get enrolled.” says district spokesperson Barry Fuxa.
The district encourages families with new Pre-K students to enroll as soon as possible to help ensure placement at their school of residence – the assigned elementary zone in which they live.
“Unlike kindergarten on up, space isn’t guaranteed at your school of residence or even within the district for Pre-K,” says Fuxa. “If a site is full, we’ll try to place Pre-K students at another site in the district, if there’s space available. Then after their Pre-K year, those students will return to their school of residence for the rest of their elementary experience.”
“In order to secure your spot, be online with your documents ready at 8 a.m. on March 26. Screenshots or cellphone pics of those are fine. Have them prepared to upload, and you’ll maximize your chances of being placed at your school of residence,” says Fuxa.
Incoming enrollment applications are time-stamped when the proof of residence, birth certificate, and immunization records are uploaded, with students being placed at their school sites in the order received. Enrollments may be delayed if the needed documents are not attached.
Families of Pre-K enrollees will be notified on May 1 about the status and location of their child’s placement. This will allow families to know their status sooner than in previous years and to make alternative arrangements if there was no space in the district’s program. It will also help the district and principals manage staffing levels before the summer break.
Anyone with questions or concerns about enrollment should contact the principal at their school of residence or the district office.
Families in need of interpretation and translation services during the enrollment process should email Stephanie Coca at [email protected] for assistance.
2024-2025 enrollment begins on March 26 at 8 a.m. More information about enrollment, SPS, and its programs can be found at www.stillwaterschools.com.
