FAIRMONT — Fairmont Area Schools has seen an increase in its youngest learners. Both preschool and kindergarten classes will be bigger this year than recent years.

Fairmont Elementary School co-principal Michelle Rosen shared what she believes has contributed to the increase.

“I think it is all of the work our community has done on the importance of early learning and the availability of it now,” said Rosen.

The availability is thanks to Voluntary Prekindergarten funding, known as VPK. VPK is preschool for 4- and 5-year-olds that’s paid for by the state. Its purpose is to prepare children for kindergarten the following school year.

Rosen said she’s written a grant for VPK funding every year for the past five years and Fairmont has been fortunate to receive it every year. School districts need to be parent-aware, four-star rated and have appropriate staffing to meet qualifications.

“I do think parents are realizing the importance of early childhood education and being able to enroll their students when they’re not trying to pay for daycare and preschool. Parents can pay for daycare and their child can attend preschool so they’re getting the best of both worlds, but not having to pay for the best of both worlds,” she explained.

Rosen said since Fairmont has had VPK, they’ve had less kids who have had no formal schooling before kindergarten.

Four- and 5-year-olds in preschool at Fairmont Elementary School have half-day classes five days a week. There are about 20 students in a section and Rosen said they’ve added a fifth section of preschool this year, which has allowed them to eliminate the waiting list they had in the past.

She said they probably have about seven spots left for this school year, but they previously had a waiting list of about 15.

“Because of the 15 kids on a waiting list, that was the reason why we added another section of preschool,” Rosen explained.

There are 130 students enrolled in kindergarten this year. Last year there were 120 and Rosen said they usually get a few right after school starts.

As for the larger kindergarten class, Rosen also believes it’s due to the work the community has done in getting parents to understand the importance of early childhood education.

“It’s been a huge collaboration in the area with the Early Childhood Initiative, Youth First, the Chamber, there’s been so much support for our earliest learners in this community. I think we’re finally seeing the benefits of all of that now in the school system,” Rosen said.

Back-to-school conferences will take place today and Wednesday and students start on Thursday.