SaddleBrooke Community Outreach Grant Supports Oracle School District’s Kindergarten Prep Program | Community

The Oracle School District provides a Kindergarten Preparation program free of charge to all three and four-year-old children living in the district. Half-day classes are held at the Mountain Vista Elementary school. Since pre-Kindergarten education is not funded by the state of Arizona, this program is jointly sponsored and funded by the Oracle Schools Foundation and the Oracle School District. The district serves children living in Oracle, unincorporated Oracle, Willow Springs, Falcon Valley and Eagle Crest Ranch.

The district provides the facilities, busing and staff for the classes. Oracle School Foundation (OSF), raises funds to provide scholarships for students to attend the program. Since its inception in 2015, OSF has been raising funds from individuals and organizations that support early childhood education. In October, SaddleBrooke Community Outreach awarded a $10,000 grant to OSF to fund five scholarships for the entire 10-month school year of 2024 to 2025.

Many people think pre-Kindergarten isn’t a critical part of an elementary school education. But they’re wrong. Early childhood education is one of the best investments we can make in a child’s future—and that of our community. Research shows that providing a high-quality education for children before they turn five produces significant long-term benefits:

• Young people who were in pre-K programs are more likely to graduate from high school, to own homes and have longer marriages.
• They are less likely to repeat grades, need special education or later get into trouble with the law.

Early childhood education also makes good economic sense. A Federal Reserve Bank official estimates that adjusting for inflation, pre-K education delivers a 12 percent return on investment.

Pre-K education delivers such great results by promoting an enthusiasm for lifelong learning—right when children are most eager and able to learn. They begin to value education through their own experiences and the behavior of others.

It helps children develop socially as they make friends, learn how to share, cooperate and respect others. They also acquire patience as they learn to wait their turn. Students experience successes and failures in a safe and fair environment. This helps them develop the coping strategies needed when facing greater life challenges.

Through opportunities to listen, follow directions, attend to tasks and participate in group activities, students develop the critical life skill of concentration. Over time, they gain confidence, optimism and self-esteem—which encourages them to explore their talents, skills and interests. By helping to build a strong foundation for a child’s emotional, social, physical and mental development, pre-K education is preparation for a lifetime.

Every child deserves to have a pre-K education. This is especially true for those whose families cannot afford private kindergarten prep programs. SaddleBrooke Community Outreach is pleased to support Oracle Schools Foundation’s efforts to provide every child in the Oracle School District with an early childhood education. These children are a vital part of our community, state and nation. Together we can help them become healthy, happy and productive adults—who pass along this positive legacy to their own children.