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Salt Lake County Council approves early preschool program for at-risk kids

Posted at 8:16 PM, Jul 16, 2013
and last updated 2013-07-16 22:16:11-04

SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah – Granite School District will be the first to try a new program this school year that will offer early preschool to at-risk children.

The Salt Lake County Council approved Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdam’s request unanimously Tuesday for $350,000 to participate in the expansion of early preschool.

McAdams said the program will help level the playing field for children entering kindergarten.

“This is going to improve the learning environment,” McAdams said. “Not only for the economically disadvantaged kids who receive early pre-school, but it’s going to improve the learning environment for all students.”

The program will give priority to children who are economically disadvantaged, and other slots will be filled using a lottery process. McAdams said he is hoping the state will pick up on the program and expand it to cover more children.