LAUNCH releases quality preschool proposal

Courtesy, LAUNCH Flagstaff

LAUNCH Flagstaff publically released its report, “Expanding High Quality Preschool in Flagstaff,” Friday morning after a reevaluation of Flagstaff’s need for free, high-quality preschool following suggestions from the Flagstaff City Council and Coconino County Board of Supervisors.

The report proposes a two-year pilot program to offer high-quality, full-day, year-round preschool to 4-year-olds in households with incomes between 130 percent and 200 percent of the federal poverty level who are located within the boundaries of the Flagstaff Unified School District.

LAUNCH estimates that 84 eligible children would participate, requiring the creation of five new classrooms. To be of high quality, according to Quality First’s guidelines, the classrooms would require at least one certified teacher, an assistant teacher and a maximum of 18 students.

To operate these five preschool classes – one more than initially proposed to city and county representatives in late January – would cost an estimated $850,000 each year.

If the pilot program receives adequate funding, the current timeline states that remodeling classrooms would occur from July to December 2019, with the first classes to begin in January 2020.