PRE-KINDERGARTEN APPLICATION PROCESS

School TrainingsFebruary 19th & 26th 2014

SESSION OUTCOMES Reexamine the application process

including guidelines for categories of student placements

Share best practices for supporting families

Review the Pre-K School Pairings

Discuss student attendance

Address school questions and concerns

SUPPORTING THE APPLICATION PROCESS Keep any/all applications regardless of their

acceptance into the program. You will need/want these later if/when openings arise.

Accept partial applications and collect additional required pieces as parents provide them to you.

Offer times for application outside of the normal school day between March 17th – March 28th. There are no Spring conferences this year and this

was a time families typically would obtain application materials.

APPLICATION PROCESS Begins March 17, 2014

FCPS Pre-Kindergarten Application Form Proof of income/foster care to qualify as automatic Proof of participation in Head Start, Family Literacy, or Special

Education Pre-K to qualify as high priority Proof of documented disability or ELL to qualify as high priority See risk factors for qualification as priority placements on the

application form Submit applications to the child’s home school Update your numbers and submit to ECE Office Consider your school population

August 1st – High priority placements August 10th – Low priority placements Leaving a minimum of 3 slots for late automatic

placements

AUTOMATIC GUIDELINES Children who are eligible for free and/or

reduced lunch Proof of income is required

Children who are in foster care Documentation is required

Category remains open all school year and any students eligible must be offered a pre-k placement Area director will determine home school/alternate

location placement if classes are filled No transportation to alternate schools is provided

HIGH PRIORITY GUIDELINES Participation in Head Start or Family Literacy

Documentation is required Letter/report card from program IEP form

Children who do not speak English Must be assessed by representative of the ELL office

Children with a documented disability Includes hearing, speech, vision, and physical

disabilities Documentation is required

IEP form Infants and Toddlers report Letter from a pediatrician

LOW PRIORITY GUIDELINES Limited to risk factors on the application

formApplicants taken in order of need on August

10th as decided by school administrator/designee if available spots remain after placing automatics and high priority categories of students.

After August 10th applicants may be accepted by date of application if available spots remain after placing automatics and high priority categories of students.

OTHERS Not accepted into the program unless

approved by area Director.

Acceptance of these applicants occurs only when extraordinary circumstances exist.

At the time of application parents should be informed of the unlikely nature that their child would be accepted.

PRE-K PAIRINGS 21 Pre-K school sites Additional schools are “paired” with

these locations Share this information with parents

when they are applying

OUT OF DISTRICTS Indicate an out-of-district request with

the application forms Email your school director and ECE

office for notification Director and ECE office will meet to

determine a decision No transportation is provided if the

request is approved

ATTENDANCE Monitor student attendance closely Communicate as needed with families to

determine if there are extenuating circumstances affecting a child’s attendance

Provide support if possible to encourage regular attendance

Send the “Sample Attendance Letter” if appropriate

FORMS All forms/handouts have been provided

today.

You will also receive an email following today’s session with electronic copies of all forms.

Please note updates/revisions to forms have been made so it will be necessary to replace any previous copies you may have.

QUESTIONS ECE Office

301-696-6864Shelly.Tribett@fcps.orgCatherine.Nusbaum@fcps.orgMichele.Baisey@fcps.org