Did you know that a child’s early years are some of the most important, not only socially and emotionally but also cognitively? In fact, 90 percent of the brain develops before age 5. In Downey Unified, we truly care about the growth of all our students and want to ensure that we provide opportunities for them to excel. This is why we have created early education programs to help young learners get a head start on paving a successful educational path. Our programs benefit young learners in a variety of ways, including:
- Social-emotional development — It’s important for children to have opportunities to interact with their peers regularly, particularly during the early stages of their lives. Early childhood education programs allow younger students to learn and develop essential interpersonal skills, including listening, sharing, and expressing and communicating their emotions.
- Better preparing children for school — An early education program helps students become more accustomed to following a daily routine, building relationships with adults and peers alike, and following instructions. These programs also help children develop a lifelong passion for learning. Downey Unified has three programs: Leap (preschool), TK and Kindergarten that provide children with positive memories associated with learning, setting them up for success as they move into a traditional school setting and beyond.
- Helping identify learning and behavioral issues — Starting school early could provide you with the opportunity to see that your student may have unique needs inside a classroom setting. Starting an early education program can potentially provide you with a chance to identify these areas of growth and in turn, find the support needed both educationally and behaviorally which will allow your child to develop in these areas prior to beginning their primary school years.
- Creating advantages for parents/guardians — When children are enrolled in an early education program, it provides parents/guardians with more time to pursue their own interests, whether that is within their career field, higher education or elsewhere.
- Offering future benefits to society — Students who participate in early education programs are more likely to graduate from high school and go on to establish themselves in careers that earn higher incomes, providing positive contributions to both their workplaces and their communities.
In Downey Unified, the exemplary early education programs we offer include several options for children ages 3 to 5. Below are some of the opportunities available to our young learners:
- Leap— This fee-based program for 3-year-olds aims to help our youngest students learn through play, socialize with peers and build strong foundations for their futures.
- Transitional Kindergarten (TK)— This additional year prior to kindergarten helps 4-year-old students (designed for students who turn 5 years old on or after September 2, 2024, and before June 2, 2025) acquire essential pre-literacy and pre-math skills as well as develop social and self-regulation skills that help better prepare them for Kindergarten.
- Kindergarten — Downey Unified students at this level learn letters, sounds and problem-solving skills. They are also introduced to reading and math, have the opportunity to explore the world around them, and develop curiosity and a desire to learn more.
- Dual-language Immersion — Even at an early age, students in Downey Unified have the chance to learn a second language once enrolled in our Global Language Academies of Downey (G.L.A.D.) program, which aims to enhance their skills, self-esteem and respect for diverse cultures.
You can learn more about our early education programs and enroll your child today by visiting our website.