Foundation funds Youngstown schools program for kindergartners

YOUNGSTOWN — A new program for parents of children entering Taft and Williamson elementary schools will give those youths an early start and prepare them for kindergarten.

SPARK — Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids — is operated by D&E Counseling Center, Austintown, with a grant from the Raymond John Wean Foundation.

“Through the SPARK program, we hope to show parents how they can best help their child be ready to start kindergarten with the fundamental skills needed to academically succeed and to find the classroom a positive place they want to be in,” said Gregory Cvetkovic, D&E executive director.

The program has been in place in Warren for two years.

It is free and available to preschool students and their families who will be attending Taft or Williamson elementary schools next school year.

For the complete story, read Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com