Rep. Byrne visits with youngsters at Racheal Patterson Elementary School
Last Thursday morning, U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne stopped by Rachel Patterson Elementary School in Atmore during his 100th Town Hall Tour across the first congressional district to speak with educators and visit with preschoolers to see first hand the effectiveness of federal preschool funding through a four-year grant.
The program currently receives $77.5 million in state appropriations and has been augmented for the last three years with $17.5 million by Alabama's four-year federal Preschool Development Grant.
According to a press release, there are 938 Alabama First Class Pre-K classrooms located in various public and private schools, child care centers, faith-based centers, Head Start programs and other community-based preschool settings. There are seven Alabama First Class Pre-K classrooms in Escambia County, enough to serve about one fourth of Escambia County four-year-olds this year.
The Alabama School Readiness Alliance (ASRA) and its Pre-K Task Force are campaigning to encourage the legislature to fully fund pre-K by the 2022-2023 school year. It is estimated that to serve every family in Alabama with a child to enroll it would take $144 million annually.
Rachel Patterson Elementary School in Atmore has two of five schools that has a pre-K classroom.
"This is our third year to have a pre-K program," said Principal John Brantley. "Originally it was at A.C. Moore Elementary School. Mrs. Turk was the first teacher. Then the next year, we applied for a grant and it was accepted. We have two classrooms now, one for three years, one for two years."
Brantley said he has seen how effective the classrooms are for children coming to a classroom for the first time with little or no socialization or basic skills.
"With Gov. Ivey pushing for money to add additional classrooms to our state, I feel very certain we will be able to continue with two classrooms," said Brantley. "The pre-K classrooms have been very beneficial to our four-year-olds. They learn skills that prepare them for kindergarten, learning through play. They have 90 minutes of center time when they get to choose whatever center they want to work in. The teacher doesn't control where they go, they have the choice, they work together. This program encourages socialization because the students learn to share, work and plan together, and other skills that really help when they start kindergarten. They know their basic shapes, colors and numbers. We are seeing many benefits as they transition from pre-K to kindergarten. We can really see how they are doing when they get into first and second grade and some of our pre-K kids are reading simple sentences as they leave of pre-k, with most of our kids are reading by the time they leave kindergarten. Between first and second grade, we continue to build sounds and phonetics. Then they have a jump on comprehension in second and third grade, when they are reading to understand. They are getting a jump start on their education."
Brantley noted there is a lot of research that shows that pre-K classes are very much needed.
"I think that's why there is such a push in Alabama to get extra classrooms," he said. "The goal is to provide at least half of our four-year-olds with a classroom. It gives them an opportunity to learn crucial skills to work together and collaborate."
Brantley said Escambia County is currently taking registration to enroll students for the 2018-2019 school year, from now until March 2, 2018. Parents can go online to https://alpreK.asapconnected.com, and complete the preregistration form. Parents will be required to submit a birth certificate and proof of residence.
Brantley said every school is different, but Rachel Patterson Elementary School will do a random drawing on March 19, 2018 at 1 p.m. in the library. Parents do not have to be present at the drawing, they will be notified. Children must be four years of age on or before Sept. 2, 2018, and have to be a resident of Alabama. The child has to be within the actual school zone.
"I would love to have as many pre-K classrooms as I do first and second grades," said Brantley. "We will have a waiting list, if we fill our classrooms. We will draw for the classrooms we have set and if we get more enrolled, they will be put on a waiting list and notified as we draw the name."
For more information, contact Rachel Patterson Elementary School at 251-368-4860.
"We're already seeing the benefits of the students," said Escambia County School Superintendent John Knott. "They are integrating into our k through 2 ready to learn and are prepared. We are definitely seeing the preschool is making a difference. There are five programs in Escambia County, two at W.S. Neal, one at Flomaton and two at Rachel Patterson. The one at Flomaton covers our Flomaton and Pollard-McCall areas. They are for our students that live in our district. Rep. Byrne has definitely got a true understanding of education and what the public education realm requires. "
Rep. Byrne spoke to educators and school administrators in the library about the effectiveness of the program and how important continual funding is. Then he enjoyed time with the pre-K students while they spent time at the centers, learning through play. The final stop had Byrne reading a Dr. Seuss book, "Oh, The Places You'll Go" to a classroom full of pre-kindergartners.
"The biggest takeaway from today's visit is that the rest of the nation has a lot to learn from Alabama's successful Pre-K programs," said Byrne. "I appreciate the opportunity to visit with the students, teachers, administrators and community leaders who help make the program such a success. As a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, I will be sure to take my experiences from today back to Washington as we work to improve pre-K programs around the country."
For more photos of the event please visit our Photo Gallery.
