Tipton Community School Corporation will offer two half-day developmental preschool options starting next school year.
It’s a shift away from the current full-day-only pre-k offerings, but it’s a needed change, according to Tipton Superintendent Ryan Glaze.
Tipton schools had a record number of preschool students needing special education services this year. The demand for those services is expected to continue.
To meet that need, there will be two half-day preschool classrooms. Classes will be for 3 to 5 year olds. There will be a morning option from 7:40-10:30 a.m., and an afternoon option from 11:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
The student-to-adult ratio will be 5 to 1 with no more than 10 students per class.
“It’ll be good to meet our needs for the next year, at least,” Glaze said.
There will be a general education full-day preschool classroom. Glaze said another classroom could be added if there is enough interest.
Cost for full-day pre-k will be $25 per day or $125 per week. Developmental preschool is free to families, if the student has an individualized education plan.
Families who qualify for On My Way Pre-K will have priority enrollment. The state program provides grants to low-income families so they can access high-quality preschool programs.
The revamp of preschool was approved by the Tipton School Board at a special meeting last week.
The board also voted down a proposal to release 30 minutes early on Wednesdays.
Glaze said the early release would have allowed for teachers to do professional development. The proposal was similar to what Howard County schools, including Eastern, Western and Taylor, do with a delayed start once a week.
Students would have been let out at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, giving teachers a 45-minute block for professional learning community time.
A PLC is a group of teachers who meet to review best practices and analyze data. Teachers often use their planning period to meet with their PLC.
“We wanted to try to avoid taking the prep time,” Glaze said.
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