How the Murrieta Valley Unified School District is meeting the needs of today’s parents with full-day preschool programs, extended child care, ELOP and more
The following article was written by Dr. Ward Andrus, superintendent of Murrieta Valley USD.
It’s no secret that today’s families face unprecedented demands. Parents are balancing careers, family responsibilities, community involvement, and the daily logistics of raising children in an increasingly complex world. For many Murrieta families, those challenges begin before the school day even starts.
Finding affordable, reliable childcare, ensuring children arrive at school on time and ready to learn, and providing nutritious meals that fuel student success are concerns shared by countless families. According to the City of Murrieta’s Retail360 dashboard, the average commute time for working residents is 41 minutes, with approximately 40 percent pf the workforce commuting more than one hour each way. These lengthy commutes create additional challenges for families trying to coordinate school schedules, childcare, and extra-curricular activities.
At the same time, parents are navigating a media saturated culture filled with endless opinions, advice and expectations about how to raise children. Families are constantly bombarded with information and competing messages. At Murrieta Valley Unified School District (MVUSD), the focus is not on asking families to fit into our programs. Instead, the district has built programs designed to fit the unique needs of families.
Through an innovative and comprehensive system of early learning, childcare, expanded learning opportunities, and enrichment programs, MVUSD has created a model that supports students from early education through sixth grade while helping families successfully balance the demands of life.
A unified vision and approach for student success
MVUSD has developed a robust and inclusive network of services that supports children from 18 months of age through sixth grade. Rather than viewing preschool, elementary education, and before- and after-school programs as separate entities, MVUSD has intentionally integrated them into one cohesive educational experience. At the heart of this vision and approach is the belief that learning happens throughout the day, not just during traditional classroom hours.
The district’s early childhood programs, preschool classrooms, Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), and enrichment offerings are all designed to complement and reinforce the instructional school day. Students experience continuity in both learning and care, creating an environment where academic growth, social development, and emotional well-being can flourish.
This seamless approach is made possible through intentional collaboration among school administrators, teachers, staff, expanded learning personnel, and support teams. Shared planning, ongoing professional development, and coordinated communication ensure that students experience a consistent and supportive educational journey.
As a result, children can reinforce classroom learning through hands-on experiences, collaborative activities, creative exploration, and structured play. These are all critical components of healthy child development.
Meeting the diverse needs of families
One of MVUSD’s strengths is its commitment to serving the diverse needs of families across the community. Recognizing that no two families are alike, the district takes an individualized approach when families seek services. Rather than overwhelming families with program lists and eligibility requirements, staff focuses on three key factors: family need, income, and family size.
Using this information, the district strategically combines multiple funding sources, including CA Center-Based Child Care (CCTR), CA State Preschool Program (CSPP), Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), and tuition-based options to create customized solutions for families.
This innovative funding model allows MVUSD to maximize access while ensuring equity across the board. Regardless of how programs are funded, students may participate in high-quality learning enrichment. Families experience a seamless system, and all students, no matter their family circumstance, benefit from an inclusive setting where barriers are removed, and everyone belongs.
Comprehensive program options
MVUSD offers a wide range of services designed to accommodate varying schedules, developmental needs and family situations. Programs are available year-round from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. providing families with reliable care. Available programs include:
- Meet and Eat program available one hour before the school day begins.
- Full-day toddler and preschool programs beginning at 18 months of age.
- Part-day preschool options.
- Extended school-day transitional kindergarten (TK) and kindergarten.
- Before- and after-school care for TK through fifth grade.
- Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) services.
- Fall, winter, spring and summer enrichment camps.
Together, these offerings create a comprehensive continuum of care and learning that supports children from early childhood through elementary school.
Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELOP)
A cornerstone of MVUSD’s support system for families is the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP).
Designed to support academic achievement, this enrichment opportunity provides comprehensive before-school, after-school, summer, and intersession activities for students.
The program prioritized equitable access for unduplicated pupils, and addresses learning loss. Students participate in a variety of activities that extend learning beyond the traditional school day, including:
- Academic support & intervention.
- Sports and fitness.
- Arts and creative expression.
- Social-emotional learning.
- Attendance recovery.
- Structured learning during school breaks.
Meet and Eat: Improving attendance through access and opportunity
One of the most successful initiatives has been the Meet and Eat Program. The concept is simple, yet impactful in multiple ways: provide students with early access to campus, a nutritious breakfast, and structured supervision before the school day begins.
What started as an effort supporting working families has produced a measurable improvement in attendance, punctuality and student readiness. The results have been significant.
Prior to implementation in 2023, more than 11 percent of MVUSD students were tardy, more than 30 minutes late to school on a regular basis. Since the initiative’s introduction:
- Severe tardies declined 9.8 percent in 2024.
- Severe tardiness declined further to 9 percent in 2025.
- More than 306 fewer students now arrive severely late each morning.
- Overall severe tardiness has seen a reduction of approximately 24 percent.
The impact on chronic absenteeism has been even more dramatic. Before Meet and Eat, MVUSD’s chronic absenteeism stood at 17.2 percent. Following implementation, absenteeism fell to 10.2 percent in the first year and dropped further to 8.2 percent in the second year.
This represents an overall reduction of nine percentage points and a decrease of more than 50 percent.
These consistent improvements translate directly into increased instructional time, stronger academic outcomes, and better student readiness to learn and engage.
As one MVUSD ELOP administrator explains: “Students who attend regularly show improved attendance habits and a smoother transition into class.”
The data demonstrates that when schools address practical family needs, students benefit academically and socially.
Enrichment through partnerships and innovation
MVUSD recognizes that meaningful learning extends beyond traditional academics. To provide students with these diverse opportunities, the district collaborates with community organizations and leverages its own talented staff to offer a broad range of enrichment programs, such as:
Sports and Physical Activities: Soccer, basketball, volleyball, track and field, and more through partnerships like ‘ELEVO Sports’
Creative and Academic Enrichment: Chess instruction, comic book creation, and STEAM workshops through ‘Learning With Apples’
Language and Cultural Learning: Introductory Spanish
Character Development: Karate programs focused on growth mindset, respect, self-discipline and positive character traits
In addition, to community partnerships, MVUSD offers numerous district-led enrichment opportunities such as:
Meet and Eat: Morning activities to start the school day positively
Power Hour: Homework assistance and tutoring
Coding Classes: Access to robotics and technology tools
Fine Arts: Dance, drama, painting, visual arts and more
STEAM and Gaming: Competitive e-gaming and educational technology-based learning experiences
A Full-Day, Whole-Child Experience
One of the most innovate aspects of MVUSD’s model is its ability to create what is essentially an 11-hour day of learning, enrichment, supervision and care. Rather than viewing childcare and education as separate services, the district has integrated them into a comprehensive student experience.
For TK and kindergarten students, this means access to a balanced schedule that combines academic structured learning, social interaction, creative exploration, and physical activity/play. The result is a developmentally appropriate experience that supports the whole child while meeting the practical needs of working families.
Maximizing Transitions, Maximizing Consistency
A key component of this model’s success is its intentional approach to logistics and scheduling. The district has carefully aligned preschool and transitional kindergarten schedules to reduce unnecessary transitions throughout the day and create a more consistent experience for children. Families can select from multiple scheduling options designed to fit their unique needs.
Option 1: Meet and Eat
Students begin their day in the cafeteria (ELOP) from 7:00–School bell, then transition to their regular school day (TK-5th grade)
- Before-After school staff facilitate the transition for TK/K students to their classrooms.
- Parents pick up their students from the TK classroom at the end of the day.
Option 2: Preschool to TK
Students begin their day in a TK Preschool program from 7:40–10:40 a.m., then transition to TK from 10:45 a.m.–2:15 p.m.
- Preschool staff facilitate the transition between classrooms.
- Parents pick up their students from the TK classroom at the end of the day.
Option 3: TK to Preschool
Students attend TK from 8:00–11:30 a.m., followed by TK Preschool from 11:35 a.m.–2:35 p.m.
- Preschool staff manage transitions to and from the TK classroom.
- Parents pick up their students from the preschool classroom at the end of the day.
Option 4: TK with Extended Care (SEED/ELOP)
Students transition from the regular TK day into the SEED/ELOP after-school program, with care available until 6:00 p.m.
- To minimize movement, the preschool classroom converts into the after-school environment.
- SEED staff transition into the classroom, allowing children to remain in the same space for extended care.
This thoughtful design reduces movement, promotes stability, creates instructional alignment, and supports young children’s developmental needs though intentional staffing and scheduling.
Impact Across the Community
The success of MVUSD’s integrated model is reflected in the thousands of students and families who benefit from these programs each year. Today:
- More than 1,600 students participate in full-time or part-time early learning and enrichment programs.
- More than 1,200 TK–6 students engage in before- and after-school ELOP programming.
- More than 2,500 students participate in enrichment opportunities districtwide.
These numbers represent families receiving support, students discovering new interests, and children gaining access to opportunities that help them thrive.
Conclusion
As communities continue to evolve and family needs become increasingly complex, school districts are being called upon to provide more than traditional classroom instruction.
MVUSD has embraced that challenge by creating a comprehensive system that supports students and their families throughout the day and year. By integrating early childhood education, childcare, extended learning opportunities, and academic support into one cohesive framework, MVUSD has developed a model that prioritized student and family well-being.
Through collaboration, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to equity and access, the district is helping ensure that every child enters school ready to learn, every family has the support they need, and every student can reach their full potential.
In Murrieta, education extends beyond the classroom. It is a community-wide commitment to supporting children, strengthening families, and building a brighter future for all.
