How Does Pre-K Work In Your State?

[Unregistered]

My state is moving toward pre-k in the schools. Tring to figure out the pros and cons for parents - aren't there a lot of non-school days? Does the school provide care then? Do they use appropriate ratios for 4 yr olds? Do they provide before and after schoolday care, or does preschool stay open for 10+ hours?
Do parents pay for before/after care and non-school days?
TIA

[Thriftylady]

In my experience, it is just on school days and during school hours. I know some schools do have a care program for after school. I am not sure if those care programs are on non-school days or not. It might depend on the area.

[Unregistered]

That's why I'm looking for info on how it's done in different areas - we don' t have it here yet and I want ideas on how it works in other areas.

[Thriftylady]

That's why I'm looking for info on how it's done in different areas - we don' t have it here yet and I want ideas on how it works in other areas.

I am thinking it will depend on how the district sets it up. I know of one school near here that they do before and after school care and care when school is out. I know our elementary does only after school care and only on school days, and it closes by 5 PM I think. I know a school in another town near here does not do any after school care but will bus kids to the YMCA for a program there after school. There are just so many possibilities. I would call and ask whoever is setting up the program, and depending where they are in set up, they may not have a clue yet.

[Unregistered]

They definitely don't know yet, it is only being discussed. I see all these problems with the schools doing it, want to write to legislators, but don't want to bring up problems for which other states already have solutions, if you see what I'm getting at. I want to know if/how other states have solved these problems or if they remain problems.

[Sunchimes]

We have full day pre-k in my town. Each school district is different I think. Here, pre-k is from 7:50-3:00. They follow the same school schedule as any other grade. Parents (or day care centers/providers) have to drop off and pick them up and make their own arrangements for before/after school care. They will bus any kids signed up for Boys & Girls Club to the location. This year, B & G club happens to be in the pre-k building, so they just walk down the hall. During summers and holidays, even teacher development days, parents have to make their own arrangements for care.

[Unregistered]

We have full day pre-k in my town. Each school district is different I think. Here, pre-k is from 7:50-3:00. They follow the same school schedule as any other grade. Parents (or day care centers/providers) have to drop off and pick them up and make their own arrangements for before/after school care. They will bus any kids signed up for Boys & Girls Club to the location. This year, B & G club happens to be in the pre-k building, so they just walk down the hall. During summers and holidays, even teacher development days, parents have to make their own arrangements for care.

Thank you. So do parents have a hard time with the summers and holidays or are they just glad to not have to pay for care during school days?

To anyone:

Are there states that have free pre-k or just scattered communities that have it? I had the impression that some states have free pre-k for all 4 yr olds, but maybe I am wrong.

[Sunchimes]

In our town, we have Boys and Girls club that picks up some of the slack, but not nearly enough. I know one of my previous families is scraping to come up with summer care. One of her kids is a lovable but difficult special needs kid. The last time we talked, she was desperate to figure out summer care. I think that at one time she was counting on Grandma retiring, but Grandma has decided to work another year. It's hard. Two of my dck have older siblings. They signed up for G&BC in January to be sure they got a space.

Texas school districts are required to offer half-day, education based pre-k to 4 year olds, but it is optional for the child to attend. Parents can opt out, but schools have to offer it. https://www.tasb.org/Legislative/Iss.../prek2010.aspx

The first ones allowed in are disadvantaged kids. If any spaces are left, they can let in other kids. In our town, I've never heard of anyone being turned down if they met the age requirement. I think they have to be 4 by Sept 1.

[Bookworm]

4k here is a lottery system. Parents have to apply in March and then they are given an assessment appointment in May. IDK what is involved in the assessment. Parents then find out in July if they've been accepted or not. Low income children with delays/special needs are almost always given the spots. now they offer 4k for $150 a week for those children who aren't accepted. As for AS care, each school provides after care for all students for a small fee. 4k follows the school schedule but when the school has half days, 4k students don't go at all.

[Unregistered]

Thank you, both. Would like to hear from anyone in an area with free pre-k.
I am particularly interested in how parents find childcare space when there is no school, or if the schools are providing care for days off, school breaks, and before and after school.

[nanglgrl]

You sign up for pre-k here at the beginning of March (people line up early) and then in late May you find out if you got a spot. It's first come first serve but they have to have a certain percentage of children from low income families in each class I believe.
The classes are held in the elementary schools but not all of them. The day starts at 8:50 and goes until 1:50 so it starts at the same time as the elementary schools but ends earlier (except on Wednesdays when elementary has an early out). There is no after school program or bussing for pre-k. It seemed like both of my own children's pre-k classrooms were made up of children from middle class families who had one stay at home parent but we live in a middle/upper class community. It's hard for parents to work around the schedule, I actually pay another parent to transport my son. It's also hard for parents who have a younger child since pick up is right in the middle of nap.
The next town over has all day programs with before and after care but its a larger community and has a lot more people at the poverty level.

[Josiegirl]

As far as I know, there is only 1 school offering all day preK but I could be wrong. I only have 1 dck going and dcm has already asked me if I'd have room for her afterschool and I told her I wasn't sure. A prek doesn't count in afterschool age and I cannot afford to have a pt spot left open, KWIM? I find it sad really, to think of such little ones going all day every day.

I do know, as a provider, we can apply to be a preK and get reimbursed 3K a year per child enrolled. We have to meet certain criteria, such as be a 4 STAR program, run it 10 hours a week and have a certified teacher come in 3 hours a week to 'check it out'.

[Cozy_Kids_Childcare]

My city has a public preschool for 4 to 5-year olds who miss the cut off for Kindergarten. It is free and full day like school. However, it is suppose to be used to help prepare those children that need extra help before Kindergarten. Parents go into testing and tell their kids not to talk to the test proctor so that they will get in. It goes from lowest to highest test scores. Plus you get scored higher if parents speak English, college graduates and depending on income. My sister future MIL is the reading specialist at one of the locations and she said more and more parents use it as free daycare. The kids are suppose to be 100% potty trained but she said there are still some that their parents have to be called to change them everyday for poop accidents. These little kids get on the bus about 9:15 (first stop) and get home about 4:30-4:45 .

[Annalee]

My state is moving toward pre-k in the schools. Tring to figure out the pros and cons for parents - aren't there a lot of non-school days? Does the school provide care then? Do they use appropriate ratios for 4 yr olds? Do they provide before and after schoolday care, or does preschool stay open for 10+ hours?
Do parents pay for before/after care and non-school days?
TIA

In TN, Pre-K is based on income but if the classes do not fill up, then spots are offered to anyone. Pre-K runs on the county's school schedule....hours, holidays, etc. No daycare can compete with free daycare but I have found all parents are not interested in pre-K here. I have five children going to kindy in the fall and some would have qualified for pre-K the past year. I feel Pre-K gradually will be for all four year olds...

[kitkat]

In WI, not every district offers a 4k program. Public districts that do offer the program do so for free. Private schools charge. Every district is different in how they set it up. A small district near us offers a full day program, 2 days a week (M/W and T/Th). Our district is pretty large. It is a 5 day a week half day program (AM/PM). Classes are offered in limited school buildings, some daycare centers, and some preschool only centers. All classes are run under the district. Schools do not offer wrap around child care, but the daycare centers offer regular care, and some preschool centers offer before/after care. If your child is already in daycare at a center, then they would attend daycare first, then 4k, then back to daycare. If you do not need child care, you can sign up to attend any of the places that offer a class. The way our district has it set up, it really isn't much different than how you would need to find care for a regular school ager.