The first school experiences for many people happened at age 5 when they entered kindergarten.

Now, however, that experience occurs two years earlier as youngsters enter the school system as preschoolers.

More Borderland families may be able to have that preschool opportunity next year with action taken by the International Falls School Board this week.

The board Tuesday agreed to offer an additional all-day preschool option for both 3- and 4-year-olds at Falls Elementary as well as eliminate tuition fees for all sections.

The move is “huge,” for the district, according to Falls Elementary and West End Elementary principal Melissa Tate.

“I feel like investing early is an investment that will pay off in the long run,” she told board members. “You really get more bang for your buck.”

An open house to register preschool and kindergarten students is set to run from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 6-7:30 p.m. Monday in the Falls Elementary library. Tate says registrants will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis.

“This is our first time offering free tuition and we felt this was the most fair way to give everybody the opportunity to choose the schedule they want,” she said.

Next year's academic options are

  • 3-year-olds: 8:30-11 a.m. Tuesday-Friday; 12:30-3 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.Tuesday and Thursday.
  • 4-year-olds: 8:30-11 a.m. Monday-Friday; 12:30-3 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Tate said there are several local at-risk families who would benefit from enrolling their child in preschool.

“We are trying to close our achievement gap as we start to invest in younger children,” she said.

In addition, Tate said research supports that kids involved in a solid preschool program experience better graduation rates, and crime rates in the community go down. “Again, it's about investing early.”

Preschool teacher Missy Walls agreed.

Many children who enroll in kindergarten without having attended preschool easily fall behind their peers – and it's hard to catch up, she told The Journal.

“Every year gets a little harder,” she said. “Preschool really is the new kindergarten.”

Cha-ching

Tuesday's decision doesn't come cheap for the district.

Currently, quarterly tuition paid by parents covers preschool teachers' salaries. Parents paid from $30,000-$50,000 for the program - a cost the district will need to pick up.

“It wasn't a cheap or easy decision to come to,” Tate said. “The board is saying they'll absorb those costs because of the importance of investing early. We appreciate their willingness to do this.”

The benefits will likely be worth it, she said.

Offering the added sections could draw an additional 40-50 preschool students, during a time district plans to make cost adjustments to offset about $500,000 in state funding lost from the decline of about 70 students this school year.

Falls Superintendent Nordy Nelson said the opportunity is an exciting one for the district.

“It really added to what we can do here locally with the preschool program,” he said. “We really look forward to the district stepping out and making the effort to pull more students in within the district...I think it's something that will sell the district.”

As far as the cost, Nelson said tuition fees for preschool students creates inequities for some school districts.

“It's against charter school legislation for public schools,” he said.

Tate is hopeful Monday's open house will attract more families.

“It's really exciting to know we're investing in kids that young,” she said. “We know it's going to pay off.”