WEST PLAINS, Mo. – The West Plains R-VII School District has received a significant boost in its efforts to expand early childhood education, thanks to a Missouri Quality Pre-Kindergarten (MOQPK) grant valued at more than $275,000.
Awarded through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Childhood, the grant will fund 40 full-day preschool slots at both West Plains Elementary and South Fork Elementary. The slots will be available to families across income levels, including those who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch and those who do not, allowing broader access to high-quality early learning for students across the district.
“This award allows us to continue building on the strong early learning foundation we’ve developed,” said Assistant Superintendent Amy Ross. “We know that access to high-quality preschool significantly impacts a child’s long-term academic success, and we are proud to offer this opportunity to even more families in our community.”
The funding supports the district’s Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP), which emphasizes Early Childhood education as a foundational priority. By expanding its preschool offerings, the district continues its commitment to ensuring that every child enters kindergarten ready to learn and succeed.
The MOQPK program funds classrooms that meet the state’s rigorous standards for curriculum, staffing, and instructional quality. District leaders are set to attend a state webinar on August 28 to finalize implementation plans for the upcoming school year.
This investment marks another step forward in the district’s mission to provide an excellent educational foundation for all Zizzers—starting with their youngest learners.
