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.

Resident families can use the mapping tool above to determine their child's school. We anticipate that families of students who are currently open enrolled will receive information on placement by the end of the calendar year. Current open enrolled siblings will be placed at the same school site. When new open enrollment applications are accepted, we will make every effort to keep siblings together but cannot guarantee it. 

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 Ad Hoc committee studied current enrollment as well as future growth. The committee report references projected resident student enrollment done by Vandewalle and Associates.

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.