DES MOINES, Iowa — The city of Des Moines has partnered with Des Moines Public Schools to give kids a head start.

The $3 million project included expanding full-day preschool at four elementary school locations by adding six new classrooms for the 2023-2023 school year. There were 120 students enrolled in the four-year-old preschool classrooms, and 50 students receiving before or after-school care.

Des Moines Mayor Connie Boesen said the classrooms were established at high-needs locations in the city to advance students’ learning and prepare them for kindergarten and beyond.

“I knew since I was started school board that half the kids entering kindergarten did not have preschool of the quality that we need to get kids ready for kindergarten, and it’s the same number today. So in a community where we need to help, you know, grow a future, and our future workforce is a strong component, and I felt very strongly about it, and the rest of council did also,” said Boesen.

The preschool expansion is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act.

The success of the initial expansion led officials to reallocate more ARPA funds in order to open two more classrooms for the 2024-2025 school year. Early numbers show those classes are at full enrollment with 40 students.