MUSCATINE, Iowa–With the start of the year comes the time for families with young children to select preschool options for the 2023-2024 school year. Jan. 16, registration will officially open for children entering three- and four-year-old preschool.

Currently, Muscatine Community School District offers preschool classes for both three-year-olds and four-year-olds, with curricula designed to meet the developmental needs of each age group. Because of state funding available for four-year-old preschool programs, any families wanting to enroll their students in four-year-old preschool may do so for free.

In addition to traditional four-year-old preschool classes, the Muskie Early Learning Center also provides bilingual preschool, where students with either English or Spanish as a first language will learn the same curriculum as other four-year-old students but receive 80% of their instruction in Spanish. This year, Muscatine Community School District will also offer bilingual kindergarten and first grade and continue to expand the program by one grade each year to give families the option of continuing the program as their students grow up. Anyone wanting to know more about the bilingual program may attend an informational meeting at the Muskie Early Learning Center, located at 149 Colorado Street in Muscatine, Jan. 19 at 5:30 p.m.

Regardless of which preschool program families enroll their children in, they may do so beginning Jan. 16. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Muskie Early Learning Center. For anyone who would like to register in person but cannot make it Jan. 16, they may call 563-262-4998 to schedule a private appointment at a more convenient time. For families that prefer to do things online, they may register their children by going to the Muscatine Community School District website, clicking on “for students and parents,” then clicking on “enrollment/registration,” and following the directions for preschool registration. However families register, they must provide either a physical or electronic copy of their children’s birth certificates or other official documents that have their names and birthdates on them.

Four-year-old preschool slots go on a first come first served basis, while three-year-old preschool slots work on a lottery system. Parents and guardians will learn of their children’s acceptance status by the beginning of April.

A time of great mental growth, Muskie Early Learning Center Principal Jessi Freers finds preschool beneficial for helping students reach their full potential. “90% of a child’s brain develops before the age of five,” she shared. “Preschool provides time for children to develop emerging literacy and numeracy skills and promote language and cognitive skills through a language rich environment.”

Preschool also takes a holistic approach, helping young children understand their feelings and learn how to get along with others. “In preschool, children gain a sense of self, build confidence, and learn how to regulate their emotions, all within a safe environment,” Freers added.

With enrollment for the 2023-2024 about to open, Freers encourages parents to signup children who will turn three or four on or before Sept 15. “Parents often ask if their child are ready for preschool, and if they are old enough to attend, then we are ready for them!” Freers emphasized. “All children develop at different levels, and the opportunity to learn the academic and social skills needed to be successful in kindergarten and beyond happens in preschool.”