USD 443 begins planning possible expansion of community pre-K

What happened

USD 443 has begun planning a possible expansion of pre-K classrooms for the broader community, potentially starting next school year; no rollout has been approved. Currently, fewer than half of incoming kindergarten students attended pre-K, and district access is limited to children who qualify for Head Start or at-risk programming.

Why it matters to families

If adopted, broader pre-K access would change the district’s early-learning program and who can participate. The superintendent said the planning effort is intended to help improve academic readiness before students reach third grade.

The evidence

At the Oct. 12, 2026 meeting, Superintendent Sheek said staff had started a phased planning process and were preparing to consider opening additional community pre-K classrooms next year (97929, 00:57:40–01:01:07). He said fewer than half of incoming kindergarteners currently attend pre-K and district access requires qualifying for Bright Beginnings/Head Start or at-risk programming (00:57:58–00:58:21). He characterized expansion as potential, not an approved plan.

The source