Quality pre-kindergarten can provide your child with a strong foundation in school and in life. Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts provides free half-day or full-day pre-kindergarten for children throughout Pennsylvania.
Why should your child attend a high-quality Pre-K program?
Quality pre-kindergarten prepares children for reading and math, but also for paying attention, following directions, and getting along with others.
Enrolling your child in quality pre-k increases the likelihood that they will be ready for kindergarten. With a strong early start in pre-k, they have a better chance of doing well in school, going to college or career training, and getting a good job. All of this can start by enrolling your child in PA Pre-K Counts.
What can you expect from a PA Pre-K Counts classroom?
PA Pre-K Counts classrooms will:
- Have teachers with the education & expertise to teach young children;
- Use a curriculum that will help your child grow academically and socially.
- Regularly review your child’s progress & choose teaching & learning activities that are best for your child;
- Help you & your child adjust to pre-k and smoothly move on to kindergarten;
- Offer a small class size so your child can have plenty of one-on-one time with the teachers.
How much does PA Pre-K Counts cost?
The portion of the day funded by PA Pre-K Counts is free to families. The program may charge for additional portions of the day (e.g., wraparound child care).
Who is eligible to participate in PA Pre-K Counts?
Children and their guardians must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the PA Pre-K Counts program:
- They must be residents of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
- They must meet the income eligibility requirements of at or below 300% of the federal poverty level for their family size
- The child must be between the ages of 3 and younger than the kindergarten entry age for the district in which they reside.
Once these eligibility requirements are met, enrollment procedures are based on local community needs. These procedures may include other considerations for enrollment, such as diagnosed disabilities or developmental delays, English as a second language, or any other factor that the program deems a priority to ensure that their communities’ needs are being served.
How can you enroll your child in PA Pre-K Counts?
There are PA Pre-K Counts classrooms in many counties across Pennsylvania. To find PA Pre-K Counts programs near you, visit www.findchildcare.pa.gov and search for a program in your area using your County and the age of your child. (The PA Pre-K Counts options will be in the tab at the top of the search results.)
You can also contact your local Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC), and they can help you locate your local PA Pre-K Counts program. Find your ELRC on the Raise Your Star website.
Please contact the lead agency directly for enrollment information, including classroom locations and application procedures. Many grantees are partnering with other programs to provide classrooms in nearby cities; therefore, please contact them directly for information on all their locations.
For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education website.
If you would like a brochure to print and share with families, please email Mary at marhal@pakeys.org.
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