Community Schools of Frankfort believes that strong beginnings matter when it comes to a child’s education. For years, the district’s PreK program, housed at both Blue Ridge Primary and Suncrest Elementary, has helped prepare young learners for a confident start to their educational journey. Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, changes are coming to the CSF Community PreK program. CSF aims to provide families with clear information, time to plan, and above all else, confidence that the program’s quality will set their students up for success.
Due to reductions in state and federal funding for pre-kindergarten and childcare programs across Indiana, CSF will transition to a parent-paid Community PreK model beginning next school year. During a recent district Town Hall, Assistant Superintendent Eric Farley explained that while Community PreK has previously been offered at no cost, the grants and funding sources that supported the program have ended. As Farley shared, “When you factor in those costs, we’re looking at $25 per day, per student.” The program will remain a full-day experience, five days per week, and will follow the same 180-day calendar as K-12 students. Developmental PreK services for students with identified special education needs will continue to be provided at no cost, as required by law.
At Blue Ridge Primary, Principal Maggie McKinney sees daily evidence of how early learning supports long-term success. Students who attend Community PreK enter kindergarten familiar with the school building, daily routines, and expectations. This familiarity helps reduce anxiety and allows students to engage more quickly once academic instruction begins. “Because of this, their transition as an active learner and engagement in academic tasks comes more quickly than those students who have not had exposure to the structure and routine of an educational program prior to kindergarten,” McKinney said.
The Blue Ridge PreK program closely reflects a traditional school day while still emphasizing play-based learning. Students participate in morning meetings and calendar time, as well as literacy, writing, and math blocks that incorporate stations and small-group instruction. Specials are built into the weekly schedule. Each day also includes breakfast, lunch, recess, and afternoon rest time. Classrooms use the ELM curriculum through Purdue University and track student progress toward preschool standards while introducing kindergarten readiness skills. This balanced approach supports academic growth alongside students’ social and emotional development.
Locating PreK within an elementary school offers meaningful benefits for families and students. For families with multiple children, it can mean having students in the same school system and, in some cases, on the same connected campus. Students also benefit from attending school full days, Monday through Friday. This routine helps build stamina and prepares them for future grade levels. In addition, PreK students receive free breakfast and lunch through CSF. “For all that students and families receive from our Preschool program, it really is the best choice to expose their child to foundational learning skills in preparation for their educational career at CSF,” McKinney said.
Blue Ridge’s PreK program is also built on strong expectations and consistent results. Since the district introduced its Pillars of Excellence model, which focuses on community, literacy, and postsecondary readiness, Blue Ridge has exceeded its literacy goals. Preschool cohorts have achieved between 85 and 100 percent mastery. Literacy goals in grades K-2 have been met for four consecutive years, with a fifth year currently underway. Classrooms are led by licensed teachers, and the program holds a Level 3 PATHS to Quality rating – the highest designation available to a public school.
District and building leaders understand that change can bring uncertainty. Families who are unsure whether Community PreK is the right fit are encouraged to reach out directly. Parents are welcome to schedule a meeting with building administration, tour the school’s facilities, ask questions, and talk through the benefits of enrolling their child in the program.
As families consider their options, McKinney emphasizes the importance of thinking about the long-term impact of early education. “I would encourage all parents to realize that early intervention matters greatly when discussing a child’s educational journey,” she said. “By providing them with the opportunity to establish a solid foundation through preschool, they can begin to grow socially, behaviorally, and academically early on.”
Families interested in enrolling their child in CSF’s Community PreK program for the 2026–27 school year are encouraged to contact Blue Ridge Primary or Suncrest Elementary to be placed on the registration list. Students must be four years old by August 1, 2026. Families who are placed on the registration list will be able to complete online enrollment on March 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. At that time, families will receive additional details about classroom placement, next steps, and payment information. Parents interested in the PreK program are encouraged to review the information posted in the News section of the CSF website at frankfortschools.org and reach out to their school directly with any further questions.
Special thanks to Blue Ridge Principal Maggie McKinney for contributing to this article.