Officials with the Rochester City School District say they are pleased with word this week that the district has been awarded nearly $6 million to expand pre-kindergarten for high need students.
Rochester received the largest grant of any district, and it will fund full-day schedules for 452 pre-K students now enrolled in half-day classes that are offered by community organizations, and nearly 400 students who attend pre-K classes in district schools.
District Superintendent Bolgen Vargas calls the grant a “holiday gift for the families of Rochester.” He says full-day pre-kindergarten is essential to improving student achievement.