Perry Central Community School Corporation awarded $3.3 million grant from the Indiana Department of Education for preschool expansion

The focus of the work will be increasing access to high quality, evidence-based early literacy instruction and early learning experiences for preschool children in rural Perry County.

“Over the past several years, we have noticed a trend that shows a growing gap in kindergarten readiness between children living in poverty and children who come from more affluent backgrounds. Children’s access to high quality early literacy programming and early learning experiences should not depend on a family’ s income bracket,” said Dr. Tara Bishop, superintendent of Perry Central Schools.

“This is especially true when we know the lifelong impact of a child’s ability to read well by third grade.”

School leaders saw the School Improvement Grant as an opportunity to leverage resources to transform early childhood learning experiences for the children they serve.

Bishop continued, “We have believed in the value of early childhood education and used local funds to support preschool since the early 1980s but this opportunity will enable us to provide high quality preschool programming and transportation for all 4-year old children five full days a week. It is a game-changer.”

Currently, Perry Central Elementary School offers preschool two full days per week, and preschool children ride the regular school bus. Barriers to increasing the number of days have included lack of space, transportation and teachers, all of which can be mapped to funding.

Perry Central Elementary principal Dr.Jennifer Mitchell has long been an advocate for increased early childhood opportunities.

“I am so excited for the opportunity for our earliest learners to join our Perry Central Elementary School Family five days a week. The earlier that educators can teach literacy, numeracy and social skills, the more prepared children become for the academic learning, which takes place at such a young age. We want to inspire curiosity and learning through play and developmentally appropriate early literacy activities so that children’s first exposure to school builds a lifelong love of learning.”

The Next Generation SIG program is funded with federal Title I funds. Among the school corporations applying for funds, three were selected in Indiana and included Indianapolis Public Schools and Kokomo School Corporation along with Perry Central.

Applicants were required to identify an intervention priority and encouraged to select an expert partner to provide strategic guidance and support. Perry Central’s partner is Lexia, a literacy company that provides professional development and programming to support reading development in children.