Preschool education is set to return to Scranton schools in January, five years after the program was eliminated due to financial constraints. The Agency for Community Empowerment of NEPA will launch a Head Start classroom at Charles Sumner Elementary School, with plans to expand to five additional classrooms across the city by the fall.
The Scranton School Board approved the agreements with the Agency for Community Empowerment and the Scranton Federation of Teachers with unanimous votes (8-0) on Monday night.
“This program may not look exactly like it did before, but it’s a major step forward and a valuable investment in our families,” said Danielle Chesek, the board’s vice president, prior to the vote.
In 2020, Scranton eliminated preschool as part of its financial recovery plan. The district, which had struggled with deep financial challenges and relied on borrowing, entered the state’s recovery program in 2019. The plan required the district to find external partners to manage preschool services. Scranton exited the recovery program in 2023, although the state continues to monitor the district’s finances.
When preschool was cut, the program had 404 students and was funded with $2.3 million in federal Title I funds. The decision sparked community outrage, and kindergarten teachers later reported that students were entering school less prepared. Advocates for early childhood education pushed for the program’s return, and some school board members promised to reinstate it.
The Head Start program is federally funded and serves children ages 3 to 5. It is offered at no cost to families who meet income eligibility requirements. The district will hire a teacher and aide for each classroom and will receive reimbursements from the Agency for Community Empowerment. If federal funding is no longer available, the program will end. Each classroom can accommodate up to 20 children.
The district estimates the total cost of operating six classrooms—including salaries, benefits, and materials—at $443,471. The district expects to receive $276,420 in federal reimbursements, with the remaining costs covered by the district’s general fund.
The program at Sumner Elementary, set to begin in January, will serve 4-year-old children in a full-day format.
At the board meeting, members took a moment to remember former Scranton Mayor Jim Connors, who had advocated for the return of preschool after its elimination. Connors, who passed away in June, had attended nearly every school board meeting in recent years to push for the program’s reinstatement.
Board President Ty Holmes praised the administration, including Superintendent Erin Keating, who has been in the role for seven months, for finding a way to bring preschool back to the district.
“While the program may not be perfect at first, I’m confident it will make a difference for the children who need it,” Holmes said. “You’ve got to crawl before you can walk, and walk before you can run.”
In addition to the preschool announcement, the board also approved a $225.7 million budget for 2025, which will not include a tax increase.
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