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Linda Langston
Former Board of Supervisors Member | Cedar Rapids, IA

Preschool – From Risk to Success

Idea Category: Education

Problem

Many at-risk preschoolers are kicked out of traditional preschool programs and not given the opportunity to a high-quality education. These students often need additional support and wraparound services in order to make sure they do no fall further behind. Access to an early education has been shown to help set students on a pathway to future success, avoiding additional services further down the road.

Solution

Linn County offers a targeted preschool program for these at-risk 3- and 4-year-olds who have been identified as needing additional support in order to be prepared for kindergarten. By targeting this at-risk population, the County is able to provide much needed resources for students who are not getting the support they need from traditional schooling. The County preschool program partners with community businesses to offer additional resources to parents, including after-school counseling and activities to be with their kids. By investing early in the services these students and their families need, Linn County has been able to help more students be successful in kindergarten and beyond. The program has already experienced a 14:1 return of investment in future cost-savings from other country services.