Early Kindergarten Opens At Belmont Hills Elementary In Smyrna

SMYRNA, GA -- Twenty-two kindergarteners recently entered the Cobb County School District’s proof of concept Early Kindergarten program. The inaugural program, which launched at Belmont Elementary School in Smyrna, aims to give students a running educational start.

“Our focus is on academic preparedness,” Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said in a news release. “Our job is to make sure we move students from kindergarten through first grade. We are making sure the students who are coming to Early Kindergarten are getting access to early learning. We have a goal to have students reading on grade level by third grade. This is another tool we are using to obtain that goal.”

While kindergarten for most children in CCSD will start on July 31, the early K program will allow participants to get a jump on their prerequisite skills, build relationships earlier with teacher and form tighter bonds with their classrooms.

“The younger you expose [children] to the education system [the more it] paves the way for them,” said Mom parent Melissa Ola, whose daughter Melody is in the Belmont pilot program. “I’m excited for [Melody]. It is a new adventure.”

The students are expected to graduate from kindergarten in May 2018.

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