GURLEY/DALTON -- Leyton Public Schools are focused on students being academically ready for kindergarten when they are age-ready.

That calls for researching pre-kindergarten programs and how to start a program at Leyton, according to Leyton School District Superintendent Matt McLaughlin.

"Pre-school has been a push at the state level for at least 10 years. Most of the learning that kids do, happens between birth and five years old. Their brains are still developing. That's when most of the brain gets formed," McLaughlin said.

The goal is to put together a program that makes children academically and socially school ready by the age of 5, when children are admitted into kindergarten.

McLaughlin said many Leyton students start their academic experience without the opportunity for preschool. 

"That might not seem like a huge deal, but as research as shown over the last 10 years -- and even longer -- that is just unacceptable for communities, especially when you consider all the attendance setters around us are offering preschool," he said.

McLaughlin listed school districts within the Panhandle currently offering preschool. He said the lack of a pre-school puts Leyton students at a disadvantage. 

"What that does for a school like Leyton is it puts our kids at a disadvantage both academically, physically, sometimes even socially. When you have quality early childhood experiences, you're able to make some connections and form relationships and kind of know what school's all about before you enter into kindergarten. Then we expect you to learn," he said.

The school district sent out surveys with students and by social media. McLaughlin said 30 responses were returned; of the 30, 20 included pre-kindergarten children. The District's goal is to open a pre-school program for fall 2024-2025. The District is in the application phase for an Early Childhood Application -- new preschool program.