Preschool Enrollment
EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY
It is the policy of the Gilbert Community School not to discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, creed, sex, religion, marital status, ethnic background, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or socio-economic background in its educational programs, activities, or employment policies as required by Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments, Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Section 216.9 of the Iowa Code. The policy of the district shall be to provide educational programs and opportunities for students as needed on the basis of individual needs, interests, abilities and potential. It is also the policy of the district that the curriculum content and instructional materials utilized reflect the cultural and racial diversity present in the United States and variety of careers, roles, and life styles open to women as well as men in our society. One of the objectives of the total curriculum should foster respect and appreciation for the cultural diversity found in our country and an awareness of the rights, duties and responsibilities of each individual as a member of a pluralistic society. Inquiries and grievances regarding compliance with Title IX, Title VI, Section 504, or Section 216.9 should be directed to the district’s Equity Coordinator: Vic Vanderpool, Director of HR; Gilbert Community Schools; 103 Mathews Drive; Gilbert, Iowa 50105; 515-232-3738.
ELIGIBILITY
Children must be four years of age prior to September 15th of the current school year, excluding those on Individual Education Plans. Pre-registration will begin in the spring of the year. Registration materials are available from the elementary office. Registration will continue until all spaces are filled. Note: Students that have completed a year in preschool already will not be eligible to come for a second year of preschool.
HOURS
Classes meet for three hours each day (8:05-11:05 or 12:15-3:15), four days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday). The preschool students will also not have class on days that there is a planned late start or early release. These days off will instead be used for: ● Parent meetings 5 ● State-required data entry and review of data ● Home visits ● Planning and collaboration time for teaching staff ● Collaboration with community agencies
CLASS SIZING
Each preschool class size is determined by a variety of factors as listed below. However, Gilbert does attempt to keep each preschool class approximately the same size and maintains an appropriate number of staff based on the class size. ● The maximum class size in each session is based on square footage of the current location. ● Class size may be reduced based on the number of students needing specialized instruction. Our center maintains a ratio of 1 adult to 10 children at all times. Additional staff may be provided based on the individual needs of children. ● Classroom student numbers will not exceed 20, and the number of children allowed is based on usable square footage.
INCLUSION
The preschool program includes all children, including those with disabilities and unique learning needs. Modifications are made in the environment and staffing patterns in order to include children with special needs. Staff are aware of the identified needs of individual children and are trained to follow through on specific intervention plans. It is our belief that inclusion in our program will enrich the experience for teachers, students, other children and their families. The preschool facilities meet the Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility requirements.