Pre-kindergarten applications for the upcoming school year are now available at Partnership for Children of Lenoir and Greene Counties — and parents may want to act now.
Space is limited in Lenoir and Greene counties’ public pre-K programs, and the acceptance procedure is stiff, according to Partnership’s Community Outreach Officer Molly Taylor.
“The placement is very competitive,” she said. “Pre-K applications are available now, rather than waiting until March.”
With early registration in the two counties beginning in March, parents are still encouraged to fill out applications sooner to heighten their child’s chances of being placed in the N.C. Pre-K — consisting of sites at elementary schools — or Three-School programs — housed at Teacher’s Memorial School.
N.C. Pre-K serves children who turn will turn 4 by Aug. 31 while the Three-School accepts children who will turn 3 on or before that date.
Last year, Partnership for Children processed 718 applications. There were 257 children from Lenoir and Greene Counties enrolled in N.C. Pre-K and 64 enrolled in the Three-School. All other children went on a waiting list and were placed slots as openings became available.
Those children will cycle out into kindergarten by next application window if they aren’t enrolled this school year.
Sherry Askew, Director of Programs at Partnership, said the staff refers parents to other programs — such as Head Start — or private daycare options.
“What we typically tell parents on waiting lists and (who) feel like they need to be placed in a childcare program … is to do whatever they feel necessary,” she said about the alternative programs Partnerships collaborates with to place students. “We try to let them know early in the year if they’ve been accepted.”
The application process operates as a first-come first-serve basis according prioritizing the child’s need. Partnership seeks to serve children who’ve not been previously enrolled in a childcare program or the type of childcare one has received.
“We want to serve children who are in the most need of being prepared for school,” Askew said.
This year, La Grange Elementary has 36 spaces; Northeast Elementary has 18; Pink Hill Elementary has 18 and Teacher’s Memorial has 54 pre-K slots and 16 Three-School openings, according to Ivey Price of Teacher’s Memorial.
The budget figures to be released will determine the overall space available.
Aside from age eligibility, Partnership also factors a family’s income level to determine acceptance into the pre-K programs.
Askew said the income scale used is a gross of 75 percent or below of state medial level and a lower income is more likely to be accepted. Income is one factor used to determine the eligibility of the child, along with inadequate health and language proficiencies.
County-wide early registration for both pre-K and kindergarten is from March 18 -22 at all elementary schools if parents chose to wait until enrollment week.
“It’s always better to apply early to make sure your child is considered for a spot,” Askew said.
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or at jessika.morgan@kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.
BREAKOUT BOX:
Pre-Kindergarten early registration dates:
Lenoir County Schools:
252-527-1109
March 18-22 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Extended registration hours March 19 from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Spanish interpreters will be available at each school on March 19 from 2 – 7p.m.
Greene County Schools:
252-747-3425
March 7 from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Jones County Schools:
252-448-2531
Trenton Elementary, April 15 from 9 a.m. to noon
Comfort Elementary, April 16 from 9 a.m. to noon
Maysville Elementary, April 17 from 9 a.m. to noon
Pollocksville Elementary, April 18 from 9 a.m. to noon
For pre-school enrollment, contact the Partnership for Children of Lenoir and Greene Counties at 252-939-1200.