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OGDEN — Most schools are preparing for year-end testing, but in Ogden they're preparing thousands of students for school next year. They're making a dedicated push to prepare students for kindergarten.
Prospective kindergartners may not know it, but they'll be thankful for more than just the new book bags handed out at Uintah Elementary School. They're getting a jump start on school.
Ogden's Treehouse Museum received a grant that allows them to provide book bags, books and practice materials for 6,000 young students and their parents. The goal is to get them started this summer to prepare for kindergarten — a stage that these days is more high-stakes than ever.
"One of the things that helps us out as teachers is if they know the majority of their letters and sounds," said teacher Mary Arnow.
Parents are enthusiastic about the program as well.
"I think it's really exciting that they throw in a book that we can go through and really nail down exactly what they would like them to know," said Jill Clawson.
This is one of many efforts going on in Utah to prepare kids for kindergarten, as educators and lawmakers realize we can save money down the road by preparing kids from the very start of their schooling.
