The Nezperce School District recently celebrated the expansion of its early childhood education program with an open house and tour of the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classrooms.

The Nezperce School District expanded its early childhood education program to five days a week, thanks to a $45,000 grant from the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health. The expanded program will help prepare young children for elementary school and provide much-needed childcare for working parents. There are no licensed childcare centers in Nezperce, which is located in North Central Idaho in Lewis County.

“Early childhood education is one of the most important services that we offer in the Nezperce School District,” Nezperce School District Superintendent Shawn Tiegs said. “Our program is low tech and focuses on play-based learning that helps get kids ready for kindergarten. We’re excited to offer this program five days a week and grateful from the support of the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health.”

The school district previously had offered preschool two days for half a day and now it is available for five days per week. The full early education program went from three full days to five full days.