Children receive scholarships for preschool

MT. PLEASANT — Des Moines, Henry, Louisa, Washington Early Childhood Iowa (DHLW Early Childhood Iowa) is funding a preschool scholarship program for these counties with the hopes of giving young children between 3 and 5 an otherwise unobtainable preschool experience.

This scholarship program is designed for families whose incomes are above the threshold to qualify for the Head Start programs.

If a child turns 4 before Sept. 15, it is required that families first apply for the free Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program in your community, however, if they are wait-listed or denied, they may apply for DHLW Early Childhood Iowa scholarship.

This program is designed for children under 6 years old and at least 3 years old as of Sept 15.

Families who receive a scholarship may choose a local participating preschool, and will be responsible to pray a portion of the monthly tuition which exceeds the amount of the allotted scholarship.

Families are already benefiting from this scholarship.

The following quotes from anonymous parents are found on Community Action of Southeast Iowa’s website:

“The preschool scholarship has helped our family so much. We had been paying for our daughter to go to preschool because I find it important to start learning in a school setting as early as possible. All of my other children have benefited from it. And come to find out my daughter needs speech therapy services that the school offers. So I knew it was now even more important that she goes, but the monthly fee plus all our other bills were starting to add up. I thought we were going to have to take her out of the program. But then I received the call that we got approved for the scholarship. We are very grateful to everyone who funds the scholarship; you have helped my family out a lot. So thank you and God bless you all!”

“My family has been so blessed with the Preschool Scholarship. Without it, my son would simply not have been able to attend preschool. As a single mother who struggles to even get bills paid and food on the table, I am beyond grateful for the assistance we were able to receive. I have watched my little boy grow so much, not only academically, but mentally and emotionally he has grown with the ability to attend preschool. Without this [scholarship] program I don’t know where he would be or how far behind others he would have been at kindergarten time. Thank you for all you do!!”

For additional information contact Kalisha Lutz at Kalisha.lutz@caofseia.org

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com