Downey Unified launching early education program for kids as young as 3

DOWNEY — For the first time in the district’s history, Downey Unified will be expanding its program offering to include preschool aged children with the addition of a new early education initiative called the Leap Program. 

Leap is a fee-based program that will serve children ages three to five years old beginning on Aug. 16, 2021. Housed at the district’s Pace Education Center, the Leap Program will join the Downey Unified Virtual Academy as the second new program to make its debut this upcoming 2021-22 school year.

“Downey Unified is excited to integrate the Leap Program to our already robust program offerings. Not only will our young Leap students be more prepared, studies show that early childhood education has positive impacts on students’ likelihood to graduate from high school and move onto higher education and successful career opportunities,” said Dr. Wayne Shannon, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education. “We are proud to now be able to extend our educational offerings to younger learners to benefit our families.”

As a full-day program, Leap students will receive instruction Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Leap Program will have a $100 registration fee charged annually with program fees of $165 weekly, billed on a monthly basis. 

For families that enroll more than one child, Leap will offer a discount on the second tuition. Additionally, through the district’s partnership with the Downey Foundation for Educational Opportunities (DFEO), families will have the flexibility to add before and after-school extended care options to better fit their schedules, at an additional cost. 

Included with Leap’s program fees are all the necessary materials and supplies for students to fully participate in daily instruction. Leap students will also receive breakfast, lunch and snacks – students are also allowed to bring their own meals if they so choose.

As a requirement, students must be potty trained prior to starting the program, be between three to five years old to enroll and cannot be eligible for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) or Kindergarten based upon their date of birth. For next school year, children born on or before Dec. 2, 2016 may be eligible to enter TK or Kindergarten for the current school year and thus are not eligible for the Leap Program. 

As the Leap Program is fee-based and not part of any Federal or State programs, families are not required to fall into a certain income bracket in order to qualify as there are no financial (federal or state) requirements or aid subsidies. 

“Leap will offer students developmentally-appropriate learning experiences and enrichment activities to allow them to successfully transition to elementary school and beyond,” shared Lisa Rawlings, Early Education and Extended Learning Programs Coordinator. “Students will be taught research-based curriculum, have access to 21st-Century technology, and gain valuable exposure to social emotional learning designed to be hands-on and instill curiosity in young learners.” 

Staffed by dedicated early learning instructors and assistants, each class is expected to accommodate between 16-18 students, with a teacher ratio no larger than 1-to-9, at all times. This makes Leap’s teacher to student ratio well below the state maximum of 1-to-12 for classes in this age group.

The Pace Education Center grounds are expected to undergo major upgrades this summer and into the fall in anticipation of Leap’s opening. Planned renovations include a freshly painted facility, thoughtfully designed classrooms and office spaces, new fencing and gates as well as a newly installed outdoor playground appropriate for young learners.

Applications for the Leap Program will open to the community in early July and informational parent meetings will soon be announced to guide families through the enrollment process. Current Downey Unified families, as well as parents and guardians who commute to the area, are encouraged to stay tuned for updates. For more program information, additional details on DFEO’s extended care options and to sign up to receive emailed program updates like registration opening dates, please visit web.DUSD.net/leap.