Studies have shown kids who attend public preschool programs are better prepared for kindergarten than those who don’t. Preschool also gives students a boost when it comes to basic cognitive and learning skills. Here in the Canyons School District, we strive to ensure our students have all the resources they need before beginning their K-12 journey, and that includes our early education program.
“Children love coming to our preschool programs,” says Terri Mitchell, Early Childhood Program Administrator in the latest episode of Connect Canyons.
Applications for CSD’s popular tuition-based preschool programs opened Jan. 10 for the 2024-25 school year. Tuition preschool is available at eight CSD schools and is designed for students who live within the Canyons District boundaries and want their student to attend either two or four days a week.
In March, applications will open for Title I preschools, which are open to families who live within those schools’ boundaries and require no tuition. All CSD preschools are inclusive and open free of charge to students who qualify for special education services.
“We use evidence-based curriculum called HighScope,” Mitchell says. “It’s the most researched early childhood curriculum out there. It addresses things such as early literacy, early numeracy, and science. We work on social skills, learning how to problem solve with materials and with peers, we have all 58 key developmental indicators which align with our state core standards from the State Office of Education.”
Preschools also focus on daily routines. “A lot of people call it play, but it’s more than play,” says Mitchell. The type of play happening in CSD’s preschools is child-initiated and teacher-guided play that is structured to help young children grow and develop cognitive, social, and language skills.
Canyons early education system touts an all-certified staff of teachers. “They are highly trained in understanding the development of young children,” says Mitchell. “We [also] have speech language therapists assigned to classrooms to help support language development. So, Canyons District is unique and different from any other district in the state for having all of our early childhood teachers certified.”
Starting preschool can be daunting for parent and students alike, so Mitchell recommends getting preschoolers ready for that transitional moment. “Start driving by the school,” she suggests. “Go visit the playground, read books with [your] children about going to school.”
Mitchell also reassures parents our schools are ready to receive those students who may be anxious leaving their parent or primary caretaker for the first time. “We’re ready to support them. Usually within the first week or so, we’ve got it down and they see the benefit. Children love coming to our preschool programs,” Mitchells says.
Canyons preschools fill up quickly, and Mitchell recommends applying to have your student attend as soon as possible to get their name on the list.
To learn more about the application process and the curriculum within Canyons early childhood development, listen to this episode of Connect Canyons.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be three or four on or before Sept. 1, 2024 to be eligible for Fall registration
- Must have appropriate language and social skills
- Must be toilet-trained
- Parents provide transportation
Tuition Cost
- 2 days a week = $100/month
- 4 days a week = $200/month
- $20 application fee
Attendance Options
Choose from morning or afternoon sessions on the following days:
- Monday and Wednesday
- Tuesday and Thursday
- Monday through Thursday
