Education
BY HANNAH JOHNSON
Preschool program to expand in 2024 25 school year
MISD graded on nancial transparency McKinney ISD o cials have received a C from the Texas Education Agency for their nancial transparency due to an error when reporting federal relief funds. The speci cs McKinney ISD received passing scores in all categories except nancial reporting and compliance, meaning the highest score it can receive is a 79, said Assistant Superin- tendent Dennis Womack. Failing this indicator was due to reporting federal emergency funds incorrectly for the 2021-22 school year. The receipt of revenue from funds was recorded on data for the 2021-22 school year, when it should have been on the revenue sheet for the 2022-23 school year, Womack said.
"We’re thinking ahead and meeting the needs of students in a way that is adjusted so it does not become too much of a cost barrier.
I tremendously appreciate the district’s vision on making this happen." PHILIP HASSLER, MISD BOARD PRESIDENT
Education foundation delivers class grants The McKinney Education Foundation sur- prised teachers and sta with grants totaling $101,875. Volunteers from the foundation delivered 57 grants to 26 district campuses Dec. 7 and 8. The awards are given based on an application process established by the foundation and McKinney ISD is expanding its preschool program and kindergarten readiness e orts. The program will hold preschool classes at additional MISD schools, Director of Childcare Programs Amy Dawson said at a Dec. 18 board meeting. The classes will be licensed by the Health and Human Services Commission. The backstory When starting kindergarten, 45% of MISD’s students are one to three years behind develop- mentally, Dawson said. In August of the 2023-24 school year, 49 students were turned away from Lawson Early Childhood School as they did not meet state requirements, she said.
Explained The district’s preschool program will expand to Bennett and Malvern elementary schools. Four classrooms at each school will be utilized for the program while an age-appropriate play- ground will be built at each school, Dawson said. The programs are expected to open in August for the new school year.
subject to an impartial review and selection process, foundation CEO Sheila Marlow Due said. “Providing these grants strikes at the very heart of our mission,” she said. The inspiration The grants support initiatives, such as science, technology, engineering and math programs; art projects; music materials; and coding tools, Due said. They also provide unbudgeted professional development opportunities.
Slaughter Elementary fourth grade teacher Chris Walker received a grant from the education foundation.
COURTESY MCKINNEY EDUCATION FOUNDATION
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MCKINNEY EDITION
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