Twenty youngsters waiting for a spot to open up in the EPIC program, Waukegan’s free preschool for at-risk kids, now have have a place to go. In a special partnership between the Waukegan Public Library and Waukegan Public School District 60, the library has agreed to host a new EPIC preschool class in its Early Learning Center (ELC) every weekday, from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Classes began March 3.
EPIC, or Early Childhood Partners In Collaboration, offers free preschool to Waukegan children ages 3 to 5 who qualify as at-risk based on an initial screening. The screening weighs factors such as socioeconomic background and language skills, then places children on a wait list according to need. Sponsored by District 60, EPIC is funded through a block grant by the Illinois State Board of Education and a Preschool-for-
“Our children are at a significant disadvantage because their parents often must work two jobs just to make ends meet,” says Donna Toops, Early Childhood Program Coordinator. More than 75 percent of children in District 60 also come from homes where English is a second language, according to Toops. “Preschool is important to help these students develop the language skills they will need to succeed in kindergarten.”
At the end of this school year, says Toops, more than 450 children enrolled in EPIC will matriculate to kindergarten, better prepared for the challenges of public school. As soon as their preschool spots open up, they will fill. District 60 offers free EPIC classes at five different sites in Waukegan, and keeps a running wait list of kids who qualify for enrollment but are unable to attend because of space limitations.
Several months ago, Toops met Elizabeth Stearns, the library’s Assistant Director of Community Services, while they served on a United Way committee together. The partnership between the library and the school district evolved from their discussions as a way to simultaneously fulfill a public need and take advantage of a public resource in Waukegan.
“Our Early Learning Center was specially designed for curious preschoolers,”
District 60 will also use the library’s Bradbury Room to conduct screenings of new EPIC applicants. For information on the next screening or to pick up a registration packet, call Mrs. Perez at (847) 249-6482, or visit the EPIC Early Learning Center at 540 S. McAlister Avenue in Waukegan.
