FIRST STEPS PRESCHOOL PROGRAM HAS LOFTY GOALS.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

LANCASTER - In Marianella Hickery's brightly decorated enclosed patio at her Lancaster home, five 4-year-olds are beginning their preschool day.

Seated at a small table, the children practice writing their ABCs and draw pictures, and then they run out to play in the roomy, shaded backyard filled with a swing set and other play equipment.

``I love it so far. I've noticed a big change in Tyler since going here,'' Jason Hirigoyen said about his son attending Hickery's preschool. ``He's been doing just excellently. Right now, as far as requirements, he can count to 20 and can also say it in Spanish.''

Hickery runs one of the Antelope Valley's 11 preschools - in homes and at child-care centers - operating under the auspices of a universal preschool program launched in March.

The goal of Los Angeles Universal Preschool, or LAUP, is to make high-quality preschool available to every 4-year-old in Los Angeles County for a nominal one-time fee.

LAUP's budget of $600 million over five years is funded by First 5 LA, the commission established under Proposition 10, the state ballot initiative spearheaded by filmmaker Rob Reiner and approved by voters in 1998 to add 50 cents a pack to cigarette taxes to pay for programs in early childhood development.

In Los Angeles County, where about half of the 153,000 age-4 children attend preschool, LAUP has so far funded 130 preschool programs. Ninety-five of them are in centers and 35 are in home-based day care, serving 3,154 children.

About 850 new preschool spaces have been created. By December 2005, LAUP's goal is to increase the number of preschool locations to 225 serving more than 5,000 children.

First 5 LA approved the universal preschool program in August 2002 in response to research showing that a child's experiences during the first five years of life influence future learning capabilities.

``We know in general the benefits of preschool, and anything that can be done at an early age supports children in their academic success, which then becomes life success, which is what society needs and wants,'' the LAUP chief executive officer, Graciela Italiano-Thomas, said.

``We are also cognizant of the needs in Los Angeles County, particularly in certain areas where availability of preschool spaces is scarce. We are doing everything we can, not only to continue the commitment to provide high-quality preschool for all 4-year-olds, but to create new spaces in those areas where the serve rate for preschool is low,'' Italiano-Thomas said.

Hickery and other preschool operators were chosen to participate in the program after going through an intensive site visit in which reviewers examined teacher qualifications, interviewed parents and evaluated the quality of the learning environment for children. They were then assigned a quality rating of one star to five stars.

This year only providers with a rating of at least three stars are eligible for LAUP funding. The funding ranges from $550 per pupil per month in a five-star facility, to $476 for four stars, and to $440 for three stars.

The cost to parents per child can range from nothing up to a $1,500 one-time fee in lieu of paying tuition, depending on the center and where it's located.

The amount is based on the median family income in the preschool's neighborhood.

In the Antelope Valley, there are three preschools operated by school districts - two in the Lancaster School District and one Head Start state preschool in the Palmdale School District. Those programs are free to parents.

The other Antelope Valley preschools are run by home-based child-care providers, with one-time fees ranging from $200 to $600. Sites can be located at www.laup.net.

Families with low incomes or special circumstances can appeal to have the fee waived or reduced. In addition, the fee is automatically waived for parents of children receiving child- care subsidies from public funds; parents of children with special needs; foster parents; parents with children under the supervision of Department of Children and Family Services; and teen parents involved in foster and juvenile probation systems.

LAUP preschools have used the funding to increase teacher salaries, buy new furniture and develop new curriculum. Hickery said she used the money to put in grass in the backyard, buy more playground equipment, and acquire school materials.

Hickery, who has been a day-care provider for 17 years and is licensed to care for 14 children, joined the LAUP program in June. She has a staff of three, including two teaching assistants.

She said her preschool offers an intimate setting where children receive more one-on-one attention.

``I had already been implementing a lot of preschool for the kids I baby-sit. It's part of my program. It's a good opportunity for the community to teach the kids,'' said Hickery, mom of four children ages 19 to 5. ``It's a nice transition for kids to go from day care or home to preschool. The structure of the program helps them to do that transition.''

Karen Maeshiro, [phone]

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Trinity Tepoz, 4, left, climbs on playground equipment while teacher's assistant Crystal Magdaleno helps Sylvia Soto, also 4, put on a shoe at Marianella Hickery's home-based preschool and child-care center in Lancaster.

(2 -- color) At her preschool, teacher-owner Marianella Hickery works with Trinity Tepoz, 4, on learning letters of the alphabet.

(3) Teacher assistant Crystal Magdaleno, left, and owner Marianella Hickery work with 4-year-olds at the Hickery Family Day Care.

(4) Through funding provided by Los Angeles Universal Preschool, the Hickery Family Day Care receives money for its preschool-age children.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer