During the October School Board meeting on October 24, the Park City School Board approved Phase Two of the Park City School District’s Preschool Expansion. This initiative will double preschool classroom capacity at Parley’s Park Elementary and Trailside Elementary, with the new classrooms opening for the 2025-26 school year.
According to the district, both Parley’s Park and Trailside Preschools will expand their classrooms from two to four, making high-quality early education accessible to more families in Park City.
A key change in the expansion involves an upgrade to the 3-year-old program, which will shift from two half-day sessions each week to a full five-day schedule. Families with 3-year-olds will also gain access to an after-school program option.
To support these expanded offerings, the district plans to hire a licensed early childhood coordinator, aiming to enhance the preschool team. With the increased capacity, the number of students enrolled in the preschool program will rise from 156 to over 288.
The district will open registration for the expanded preschool on January 1, 2025, offering several options for 3- and 4-year-olds:
4-year-olds: Full days, five days per week
3-year-olds: Full days, five days per week
4-year-olds: Half days, five days per week
3-year-olds: Half days, five days per week
The district noted that these options may be adjusted based on enrollment to maintain ideal class sizes and instruction quality.
The Park City Education Foundation has been instrumental in supporting this expansion, providing essential funding to make preschool more affordable and accessible for all families. Since the program’s inception in 2010, foundation donors have played a crucial role, and now contribute over $125,000 annually to sustain affordable, high-quality preschool for both 3- and 4-year-olds.
Dan Gallery, Park City School District’s preschool director, highlighted the need for this expansion, noting that currently, fewer than 60% of kindergarteners have attended a 4-year-old preschool program, and only 20% have attended as 3-year-olds.
“Expanding our preschool program allows more children to benefit from early academic and social development,” Gallery said. “This expansion will strengthen the foundation of education for our youngest learners, supporting their journey through school with essential skills in literacy, social interaction, wellness, language development, and services for students with disabilities.”
This expansion represents a major step toward building a robust foundation for Park City’s youngest students, supporting them in achieving academic success from an early age.
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