NEWS RELEASE: Roseville Community Schools to Offer Young Fives Program Starting in Fall
Roseville Community Schools will be adding a Young Fives transitional kindergarten to their roster of programs beginning in the fall of 2020. Young Fives will be offered to students who turn five before December 1. This program will boast small class sizes and help students get ready for kindergarten by helping to improve their academic proficiencies, social skills, and maturity.
Assistant Superintendent Dave Rice said that the district realized the need for a program for students who might not be ready for the traditional, full day Kindergarten. “Only 15% of our incoming kindergarten students come in having attended preschool, and nearly 80% of our students come to us below grade level in reading.” Rice added that some children are not developmentally ready to absorb all that is asked of today’s kindergarten student. “It is evident now more than ever that many of our students are coming to us lacking the skill sets needed to successfully navigate a full year of kindergarten and be fully prepared for the first grade. We need to have that early intervention program in place for students who may need that jump start to kindergarten.”
Superintendent Mark Blaszkowski said that the addition of the third grade reading law, as well as the ability of parents to sign a waiver allowing a child who turns four between September 1 and December 1 to begin kindergarten, makes a program like this essential. “Over the years, we have found that many of the students who have been waivered into kindergarten do not have the maturity level needed to handle the social and emotional rigors of school. We believe that Young Fives will help reduce special education referrals, add confidence to our young learners, and help make an earlier connection to our teachers and staff members.” Kindergarten readiness assessments and maturity surveys will also be in place to ensure correct placement.
Busing will be available for all students in the Young Fives program. Interested families can get more information about the program at Kindergarten Information Night on February 27 or call the Curriculum Office at (586) 445-5510. Spaces are limited.
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