W. Elementary declines funds for P-3 program
RUSSELLVILLE — West Elementary School will not move forward with state funding for a kindergarten classroom after determining it will likely not need the extra class for the 2026-27 school year.
The funding was part of a statewide expansion announced last week by Gov. Kay Ivey through Alabama’s Integrated Approach to Early Learning program, known as P-3. The program is designed to connect learning from pre-K through third grade and strengthen early reading and math skills.
Principal Alicia Stanford said her kindergarten classrooms are all already P-3. The school initially applied believing it would need to add an additional classroom. After monitoring updated numbers, that need is no longer clear.
“I’m not 100% sure we’re going to need to add an additional 12th classroom,” Stanford said.
Stanford said the school may consider a different option later in the year if enrollment increases. She said the state offers another grant designed specifically for schools that already have P-3 classrooms in place.
“They have explained to me that there’s going to be another grant that comes in May that is called an expansion grant because my kindergarten is already P-3,” she said.
She added the school will wait until after kindergarten registration is complete before making any decisions about adding space.
The P-3 program aligns teaching across grade levels to give students a more consistent learning experience. The program includes instruction in reading, math, science and other subjects. It also uses the Alabama Reading Initiative, which aims to prevent reading problems and help struggling students improve.
The initiative is led by the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education in partnership with the Alabama State Department of Education.
“This expansion reflects Alabama’s continued commitment to supporting our youngest learners and the educators who serve them,” said Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education Secretary Ami Brooks. “When schools align instruction from pre-k through third grade, students benefit from a more consistent and supportive learning environment during some of the most important years of their educational journey.”
Other nearby school systems who were also funding through the program were:
• Colbert County Schools will receive funding for two first grade classrooms at New Bethel Elementary.
• Lauderdale County Schools will receive funding for four kindergarten classrooms — two at Underwood Elementary School and two at Lauderdale County Elementary School.
