On Friday, I had the opportunity to visit the afternoon Pre-K class at Westview Elementary in Apple Valley along with Governor Dayton, Commissioner Cassellius, other education officials and legislators. It is so amazing to see how much these early learners have already accomplished and how quick they are to adjust to something new. Governor Dayton did a great job of interacting with the students, and that was sometimes a challenge because there were also three new little chicks in the room that got a lot of attention.
After watching the children in class, the adults went to another to discuss the program. Superintendent Berenz talked about the way School District #196 is trying to ensure that children will be prepared for kindergarten. One of the teachers mentioned how much progress some of the children had made since the beginning of the year. A kindergarten teacher said that the children who had been in the program previously come into kindergarten with more confidence and learning skills. A mother commented that even though she thought she had prepared her child with basic knowledge, she noticed the improvement in social skills and leadership ability. The principal said the students and their families become a community. The visit allowed us to see some of the remarkable experiences children have in our public schools. Shouldn’t all children who would benefit from this training be eligible?