This school year during work sessions with our elementary schools committee (which included teachers, parents, community members, 2 school board members, and administration), one theme kept coming up: Early Childhood Education. The benefits of early childhood education are clear through research.
Our current preschool is only available for those who qualify for Title 1 services and Special Education. Preschool is not funded the same way K-12 grades are funded. By creating The Arrow Early Childhood Center, we can expand our current preschool. This means preschool will still be free for those who qualify and available to those who do not – it’s a new offering!
Listen to our radio interview with Mike Tanner while reading about preschool on this page:
Preschool Tuition:
1. Free for those who qualify.
o Qualification is based on a formula for Title 1 services and Special Education as regulated by the U.S. Department of Education. Parents complete an application during their child’s preschool screening or with the McKinley Principal.
§ Learn more about the regulations here.
o Our preschool does not compete with Head Start. Children from birth to age five from families with low income, according to the Poverty Guidelines published by the Federal government, are eligible for Head Start and Early Head Start services. Learn more about Head Start eligibility by clicking here.
§ Learn more about ICAP Head Start.
2. $215 per month.
o Since preschool is not funded by the South Dakota State Department of Education like grades K-12, the tuition will help us pay our preschool teachers and cover expenses.
Preschool Screening:
Preschool is for children who will be 4 by September 1, 2024. Screening is available March 22 at Mellette Elementary.
Appointments Required: Visit this link to sign up. Bring your child's birth certificate to your appointment. Please call 605-882-6398 if you need assistance or have any questions.
About Preschool Next School Year:
Preschool will be 5 days a week at McKinley’s Arrow Early Childhood Center and will follow the District’s calendar.
• Mornings: 8:30-11:30 am
• Afternoons: 12:20 - 3:20 pm
Preschool benefits at Watertown School District:
• Learning environment specific for 4-year-olds.
Play based learning.
Students will have the opportunity to experience Physical Education, Art, Library, and Music.
Social Emotional Learning by highly qualified school counselors.
Lunch and breakfast provided during the preschool day to teach school lunchroom procedures and expectations.
• Highly qualified teachers with Early Childhood, Special Education, and Elementary Education degrees
Teachers receive professional development throughout the year with the school district.
Teachers follow standards, based on the South Dakota Early Learning guidelines.
Standards based report cards are issued quarterly.
Students are tested regularly with research-based assessments to ensure they are making adequate progress in the classroom.
Parent teacher conferences occur twice a year along with the rest of the school district.
• Transportation.
Busing available.
Additional mid-day transportation at $25 per month.
Overview of McKinley - Arrow Early Childhood Center
Preschool for 4-year-olds by September 1 (half-day)
Junior Kindergarten for 5-year-olds by September 1 (all day)
Kindergarten for 5-year-olds by September 1 (all day)
Arriving at expanding early childhood education options:
The School Board and Watertown School District took careful, considerate, and strategic steps when addressing the elementary schools during the 2022 – 2023 and 2023 – 2024 school years. Due to fluctuations in birth rate (click to see Department of Health data) and ever-growing student needs, the District is being proactive to respond to changes.
Read more about the Arrow Early Childhood Plan here: https://www.watertown.k12.sd.us/page/elementary-school-planning