Berks County Intermediate Unit added seven new classrooms across Berks County to its Pre-K Counts program thanks to approved state early education funding. The new sites open March 1 and run until early June. Enrollment is now open.
“For me the benefit is now but it’s also an investment into the future for these students, for our country, for our future generations,” said Brandywine Heights Superintendent Andrew Potteiger. “As a school district, we feel very fortunate to be able to have this grant.”
In Northeast Berks, the BCIU PA Pre-K Counts program will be available at Brandywine Heights Elementary School and Hamburg Area School District’s Tilden Elementary Center, opening one classroom of 17 students in each district.
“I feel it is an outstanding opportunity for us to reach out to our youngest learners and work on important foundational skills on which to build their future learning,” said Tilden Elementary Center Principal Lacie Cucciuffo. “Children will be prepared with pre-literacy and numeracy skills and work on important social skills. This program provides early learners with foundational skills on which to build future learning. Students who attend a high quality pre-kindergarten program are more likely to do well in school and be contributing members of society.”
“We had data on the number of children who had unmet needs for preschool programs,” said Brenda Robertson, Program Administrator for Logistics at BCIU #14.
Robertson said data provided by the state showed that Brandywine has an unmet need of 121 preschool age children (unmet need equals number of children ages 3-4 under 300 percent FPL) and Hamburg has an unmet need of 226, according to Number of Children Ages 3-4: U.S. Census 2010 School District Population Estimates and Percent of Children Living in Households under 300% FPL: American Community Survey 5 Year Estimates (2007-11). Total Pre-K 2014-15 Funded Slots includes Federal Preschool Head Start, Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program (HSSAP), and PA Pre-K Counts (PA PKC).
“We are happy for the funding that has become available, but as you can see, more funding is needed to meet the needs of the community,” said Robertson. “Any family in Berks County is eligible to apply. We have classrooms located around the county so we can find placements for everyone. They’re not tied to the school district.”
Open enrollment events will be held on Feb. 18 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Brandywine Heights Elementary School and Tilden Township Elementary Center. Parents should bring child’s birth certificate, record of immunizations, proof of income, medical insurance card or information and county case number.
The state’s Pre-K Counts program has been in place for the past five years. BCIU has been operating Pre-K Counts programs since its inception with five in the Lower Alsace area and one in Reading. Robertson noted that there was additional funding allocated that enabled BCIU to expand its Pre-K Counts program to add seven new classroom sites.
Besides Brandywine Heights Elementary and Tilden Elementary Centre, BCIU is opening new classrooms in Owatin Creek Elementary in Exeter Township School District, Conrad Weiser West Elementary, two at the BCIU Learning Center at the Education Center, 2010 Centre Ave, Reading, and BCIU Learning Center at St. Paul’s, 131 N. 9th Street, Reading.
“It’s a total of seven new classrooms operated by BCIU,” said Robertson. “As part of our grant, we also partnered with Anita Mullen from Touching the Future Child Care located in Fleetwood. Anita is also opening a new Pre-K Counts classroom in her location.”
“The state is investing more in pre-k. With the new Governor’s proposal that came out, that allowed the dollars to start flowing for the pre-k program,” said Potteiger.
The districts partnered with BCIU and applied for the grant in June 2015 but funds were on hold until after the state budget stalemate ended in January.
“We are really fortunate to have this here and we’re partnering with IU, the host of the program who are running it,” said Potteiger. “As a school, we’re partnering in order to give the opportunity to our residents here in our community and our students.”
“We’re really happy to be partnering with the school district because it’s wonderful to have a preschool classroom located right in the elementary school where students will eventually go to elementary school. It’s such a natural transition for them to be able to experience the same environment while they’re getting a good preschool program,” said Robertson.
Pre-K Counts, funded by the state, is a free preschool program for children ages 3 to 5 who do not qualify for the Head Start preschool program but parents cannot quite afford preschool programming on their own, said Robertson.
Parents who are in the income level of 300 percent of poverty qualify for Pre-K Counts. For instance, a family of four with an income below $72,750 would be eligible. In comparison, parents need to be in the 100 percent level of poverty to be eligible for the Head Start program.
Pre-K Counts offers a preschool program for “that group that is in between. They have a challenge with accessing preschool programing and this is a way to help them with that,” said Robertson.
Based on a state prescribed ranking, students are accepted into Pre-K Counts based on highest need, determined during the application process, giving priority to single parents and teen mothers, as well as older children over younger children. Anyone eligible but not given first priority will be placed on a county waiting list.
“Studies show that children who attend high quality preschool programs do better in life. They graduate from school, go on to tech schools or colleges and are able to be employed and do well. To be able to bring that kind of education to the students here is wonderful,” said Robertson. “We’re really happy to be partnering with the district and do that.”
Pre-K Counts runs five days a week for five hours a day. The preschool curriculum addresses pre-literacy, early math skills, as well as STEM skills (science, technology, engineering and math) and aligns with the curriculums in place at the districts.
“So it will be an easy transition. Children will be learning the prerequisites they need to be able to transition successfully to kindergarten,” said Robertson. “We’ll be working off the Pennsylvania standards for early learning, and those standards are aligned with kindergarten through third grade. One thing they learn will lead on to the next.”
“That for me is the real power for this,” said Potteiger. “For me, the critical element is we’re getting the kids into the school, getting them use to the lunch line, getting them use to the routine of school. When they start full-day kindergarten, it’s not some foreign first experience in school; there’s actually a connection there. They understand and they’ve seen the kindergarten teachers… There’s an actual connection to the curriculum.”
Robertson said the preschool is setup in learning centers to address different skills. The children will be able to choose different activities at the learning centers and they are supported in their learning through the interaction of those materials and staff. There are small group activities focused on specific skills and large group activities to learn how to participate as part of a large group and be interactive in their educational environment. There is also opportunity to be active on the school playground, encouraging physical activity and motor skills and social interaction. A morning snack and lunch meal is also provided.
“The Pre-K program is an awesome opportunity for kids because it doesn’t necessarily serve our Head Start students, which is a great program to support those students who are in need to give them that head start to kindergarten,” said Potteiger.
He said this is targeted at students who may not be able to afford a pre-k opportunity just based on the financial need of the family.
“This gives them a free opportunity,” said Potteiger. “Free preschool with a certified teacher, free snack and lunch and assimilate right into our full-day kindergarten program.”
Noting the district’s strong partnership with the local preschools, Potteiger said the district has reached out to them to make sure they know this program is available.
“We’re able to help some students that might otherwise not be able to have this education opportunity, to give them that chance to be one step ahead when they start,” said Potteiger.
If unable to attend an open enrollment event, complete and submit an application packet and enrollment will be scheduled individually. Applications are available at BCIU Main Office, 111 Commons Blvd., Reading; BCIU Learning Center a the Education Centre, 2101 Centre Ave., Reading; Brandywine Heights Elementary School, 445 W. Barkley St., Topton; Conrad Weiser Elementary School, 102 S. 3rd St., Womelsdorf; Owatin Creek Elementary School in Exeter Township School District, 5000 Boyertown Pike, Reading; Tilden Elementary Center, 524 W. State St., Hamburg. Also apply online at www.berksiu.org/prek or call 610-987-8613.
