School district receives $250,000 to help fund early education across town

The school district received $250,000 of state grant money to help fund early education in town and the high school’s new preschool.

The money comes from the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative which has given out over $20 million across the state in support of early education.

Wareham received the same grant last year which allowed the district to partner with area private preschools such as Best Friend’s Learning Center and Little People’s College as well as the nonprofit Southshore Early Learning Center.

The grant allowed the district to supply each institution with support in areas such as speech, social and behavioral skills as well as providing special education assistance. According to  Wareham Public Schools Superintendent Matt D’Andrea, a portion of the grant money will be used to continue offering these services.

Additionally, part of the grant money this year will go towards funding the new preschool being established at the high school. D’Andrea said he is hopeful the preschool will open Sept. 8.

“This is going to be great for our preschool kids and our high school kids,” D’Andrea told the School Committee in their Sept. 21 meeting. “I’m very excited about this program.”

Currently there are eight high school students signed up to help out at the preschool and there are about 17 young kids enrolled in the program.

Upon completion of the preschool course, high school students will receive their Early Childhood Certificates which would allow them to work in daycares.

The district will also use the money to offer professional development opportunities for teachers, and Boston-based early childhood research firm Early Childhood Associates would help the preschools assess how they can strengthen preschool and childcare services in town.