Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. hopes to see all 100 spots filled this fall in a state-subsidized preschool program serving low-income families.
Enrollment for the On My Way Pre-K program will begin next month for the 2018-19 school year, said Erica Woodward, program manager for Bartholomew, Harrison, Floyd and Jackson counties. Woodward presented details to the BCSC school board Monday evening about the program, which allows children to have access to a high-quality prekindergarten program the year before they begin kindergarten.
Bartholomew County was among 15 counties named in June to receive state funding for the program designed to expand options for families that would otherwise struggle to pay for prekindergarten on their own. On My Way Pre-K, which began in Bartholomew County last month, had 50 slots available for students, but only 33 grants were approved for children with 18 of those designated for BCSC, Woodward said.
Factors such as families not meeting eligibility requirements including income guidelines or not following up concerning their applications were among the reasons all 50 spots did not get filled, said Shane Yates, BCSC prekindergarten director. There are a total of eight area providers for On My Way Pre-K in Bartholomew County, with two of those being offered within BCSC at the Busy Bees Academy and Taylorsville Elementary School, which is the newest provider under the program.
To qualify, a child must be 4-years-old by Aug. 1 and a family must also meet income guidelines.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
