4K-2 Grade Configuration

The student experience is at the core of the decision to review grade configurations at Taylor Prairie and Cottage Grove Schools. We know our teachers provide high-quality learning experiences for students, but disruption is inherent in the transitional school model. We have identified several ways a neighborhood school model would improve the student experience:

• Neighborhood schools would provide for fewer educational transitions, which are disruptive and difficult for all students and particularly for students with special needs;

• Neighborhood schools will improve the ability of our staff to provide interventions for students needing support services on either end of the spectrum, given its familiarity with students over a longer period of time;

• Neighborhood schools foster stronger relationships between parents and the school since students will remain in a school for a longer period of time;

• Neighborhood schools create an environment where Specialists and others relationships over four years are strengthened; those staff are able to contribute to co-planning by knowing students and their needs more deeply 

• Neighborhood schools also lead to increased knowledge across larger grade spans for our teachers. 

• Relationships are important for all students, and are critical for some. Specialists and student services staff would be consistent for four years, classroom teachers would be familiar faces in the building and available for relationship-building and connection. 

• Comfort with the school environment leads to familiarity and consistency.

Attendance boundaries have not been determined. We are committed to an equitable and efficient boundary that will fill the needs of the community and our students. Families and community members will have the opportunity to provide input and feedback on boundaries.

We do not anticipate a financial burden in making this change. There should be no changes in the total FTE for staffing, and both facilities are similar and able to serve a variety of students. 

The enrollment for 2023-24 at Taylor Prairie is 278 students (8 sections of 4K and 8 sections of Kindergarten). 

The enrollment for 2023-24 at Cottage Grove School is 310 students (8 sections of 1st grade and 7 sections of 2nd grade). 

Projections for 2024-25 are: 
Taylor Prairie: 290 students (8 sections of 4K, 8 sections of Kindergarten)
Cottage Grove School: 320 students (8 sections of 1st, 8 sections of 2nd)

Projections for 2025-26 with the new configuration are:
Taylor Prairie: 310 students (4 sections each of 4K-2)
Cottage Grove School: 310 students (4 sections each of 4K-2)

Under the proposed configuration, each school (Taylor Prairie, Cottage Grove and Granite Ridge) would reach capacity at the same time. When the schools are approaching capacity, the School Board and community would have the opportunity to address long-range changes and solutions. 

Changing the grade configuration will not lead to an increase in the number of routes or to a cost increase. Nelson's anticipates similar or perhaps shorter travel times for students. 

On October 11, the School Board will take action on whether or not to change to a 4K-2 grade configuration for both Cottage Grove School and Taylor Prairie School at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year. The detail in how to make that change--boundaries, staffing, policies and more--will be addressed in the planning and implementation phase which will begin immediately following the vote. 

Families, staff, and community members will have an opportunity to provide input and feedback throughout the planning and implementation phase. 

Monona Grove has a long history of reconfiguring its buildings as populations change and grow. Cottage Grove School once served students from Kindergarten through 5th grade, and most recently served students in grades 2-4. This has been the case in Monona as well with Nichols most recently serving students in grades 3-5 (now the site of our District Office and MG21 for grades 6-12), Maywood formerly serving grades K-2 (now the site of our transition program among other uses), and Winnequah School formerly serving as a middle school for students in grades 6-8.