State superintendent stops at Harper Preschool

Marisa O’Neil

State Supt. of Schools Jack O’Connell on Friday visited Harper

Preschool in Costa Mesa, which opened as a general education school

earlier this year.

Harper originally opened three years ago as a special education

preschool and added state-funded general education classes in

February. The format has allowed more children to have access to

early education.

“We wanted to try to get children in school at 3 years old, so

when they hit 5 and go to kindergarten, we’ve leveled the playing

field,” Newport-Mesa Unified School District spokeswoman Jane Garland

said.

Students at the school have to either qualify for special

education classes or meet income guidelines to attend. Right now,

more than 200 students are enrolled.

The school also has collaborative classes that combine both groups

of students. Lorie Hoggard, director of Early Childhood Education for

the district, said that people visiting the collaborative class often

can’t tell which students are which.

“I wanted to see the integration with the preschool and the

special ed, and this school has a good reputation,” O’Connell said of

his visit. “It has some innovative ideas.”

O’Connell said that the state allocated $900,000 last week for

preschool programs in the district.

Harper, as well as Whittier and Wilson preschools, is also

supported by grants from the Children and Families Commission of

Orange County. The grants allow the schools to offer adult education,

including English lessons.

Harper also has an occupational therapy clinic with swings, mats

and other equipment to help children who need to develop balance,

coordination or other physical strength.

Newport-Mesa Unified School District Supt. Robert Barbot said that

reaching children who may not otherwise attend preschool will help

their development and may help bring test scores up.