Neshoba Central Pre-K awarded $900K

The Mississippi State Board of Education recently awarded the Neshoba County School District’s Pre-Kindergarten Program with a $900,000 grant to be funded over three years to improve three current classes and add a fourth.

The grant, part of the $4.7 million allocated to five Mississippi school districts, will provide Neshoba Central with $300,000 annually for the next three school years starting with the 2025-2026 session.

The new State Invested Pre-K (SIP) programs provide funds to support high-quality pre-K programs for 4-year-old children in districts like Neshoba that are not part of the Mississippi Department of Education’s Early Learning Collaborative program. SIP programs expand MDE’s offering of high-quality pre-K programs.

Jennifer Rawson, director of federal programs, said Neshoba Central would use the grant for a fourth class beginning in the 2025-26 school year.

“We will expand our pre-K to add another class of 20 students, a certified teacher and an assistant teacher,” Rawson said. “In addition to the two added salaries plus benefits, the grant will fund additional training for teachers and essential classroom supplies.”

Neshoba Central is currently in the planning stage for the new class, which will bring the pre-K to four classes with 80 students.

The SIP programs meet all 10 benchmarks established by the National Institute of Early Education Research: use of early learning standards, curriculum support, teacher, assistant teacher, staff professional development, maximum class size, staff-child ratio, screenings and referrals, and a continuous quality improvement system.

Awarding of the grant each year is contingent upon the successful completion of services, a performance evaluation, and the availability of funds.

Rawson is excited about the opportunity for an additional class, citing numerous benefits.

“Research suggests that students who attend a high quality pre-K program are better prepared for kindergarten. They also have higher academic outcomes in the long term,” Rawson said.

Neshoba Central pre-K improves students’ cognitive, social, emotional and physical development, she said.

“Pre-K students, also, have recess each day because play is so important,” Rawson said. “We have a new playground just for them.”

Teachers instruct students in reading, math, social studies and science as well as speaking, listening and writing skills.

This past summer, some pre-K teachers attended the Early Childhood Conference, which is a requirement for the grant.

Other school districts receiving the grant include Benton County, Forrest County, Moss Point and Simpson County.