MENIFEE - Meagan Woolridge and her husband, Bob, made the choice that one of them would work and the other would stay home with their two young children.

The Murrieta couple also decided they wanted their oldest child, 4-year-old Tyler, to attend preschool as a way to transition into kindergarten.

The Woolridges' finances made it tough for both of those goals to be met until they learned about the free preschool program offered at Mt. San Jacinto Community College's Menifee campus.

"This program is a godsend," Woolridge said, holding her 2-year-old daughter in her arms as Tyler eagerly awaited the opportunity to tell his mother what he did in preschool. "He is around kids his age, and he is learning. And I know he'll be ready when it comes time for him to go to kindergarten."

Thirty-six children are allowed to attend Mt. San Jacinto's program at no charge if the families meet financial standards established by the state. Morning and afternoon classes began Aug. 20 and end May 30. Each class is three hours and held five days a week at the campus's Child Development and Education Center near Rohrbacher Way and Antelope Drive.

At most, 48 students are allowed in the program, with 24 in the morning class and 24 in the afternoon class. Of the 48, 36 children can attend at no charge.

The morning session is full. However, there are a few openings for children in the afternoon classes, which run from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Once the classes fill up, families who qualify may be put on a waiting list.

This is the first year the program has been offered for free at the Menifee campus, said Donna Greene, program director at the college's Child Development & Education Center. The program will be offered next year as well, she added.

Although the program is open to anyone in the community who qualifies, priority is often given to children of MSJC students.

Sonya Lockwood, a business major at the college, said she is grateful to have an affordable place to take her 4-year-old daughter, Amaya.

"If it wasn't for this, I couldn't go to school," Lockwood said as she waited for her daughter in the preschool classroom on a recent morning. "And my daughter loves the program."

To qualify for free preschool, a family of three would have to have a gross monthly income of less than $3,628. A family of four is eligible with a gross monthly income of less than $4,031. A family of five qualifies if the gross monthly income in that household is less than $4,676. The rest of the financial standards are available at the center.

About 75 percent of the cost of the program on the Menifee campus is funded with a grant from the state Department of Education. The rest of the money comes from the college district, Greene said.

Greene, who has expertise in child development issues, said the program's ability to give children the chance to experience life among their peers and adults outside their home is a big plus.

"As a society, we underestimate the importance of developing social, emotional and developmental skills, things like being able to interact with peers and adults outside of the family, tying your shoes, waiting your turn," Greene said.

"Sometimes we worry too much about teaching kids numbers, shapes and letters," she added. "But the children have to be ready to be in a school environment to learn those things."

For more information about the program, call (951) 639-5605.

- Contact staff writer Lorell Fleming at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2621, or lfleming@californian.com.