
Feature/General
The Value of Pre-K
By Kathryn Cochran
Jan/Feb 2005
How to know if your
child is ready? | Common
Questions About Pre-K | Local
Pre-K Programs
For the past 12 years, Georgia
has provided parents with one of the most valuable educational
opportunities. In the early 90's,
Governor Zell Miller reviewed alarming statistics showing that
students in Georgia had high rates of teen pregnancy and school
dropout. Inspired by the knowledge that children with strong preschool
experiences tend to be more successful in school and have higher
self-esteem, he created the Georgia Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten
Program, also known as Pre-K. During the 1992-93 school
year, a pilot program was established that served 750 at-risk 4-year-olds
at 20 public school sites. Today, around 64,000 children participate
in Pre-K programs, which is 70% of all Georgia 4-year-olds. Because
of this participation, Georgia reaches a higher proportion of 4-year-old
children than any other state in the nation.
This is great news for Georgia parents. Funded by
the Georgia Lottery, the Pre-K Program's mission is to prepare
children for
school by providing an opportunity for them to develop school
readiness skills in an environment that encourages children
to have fun while
learning. An evaluation by Georgia State University found that
children who attended Pre-Kindergarten had higher academic and
social ratings by their kindergarten teachers and better attendance
than children who did not attend Pre-Kindergarten programs. Other
studies have also shown that children who enter kindergarten
ready to learn are much more likely to succeed in school.
For Georgia parents and 4-year-olds, Pre-K is much
different from daycare and preschool. Pre-K can be held in the
public
school
system as well as a private setting. When held in the public
school system, this program operates on the regular school
system calendar
for the length of a typical school day. Pre-K also has its
own curriculum, and it's the county's discretion to choose
which
curriculum to use. In addition, Pre-K teachers must hold specific
certification
and education. Aides must be at least 20 years old, high school
graduates, and have experience with young children.
Unlike the relaxed rules of the preschool setting,
parents play an important role with Pre-K schooling. Parents are
encouraged to participate in their child's learning experience
by reading
to their children, reinforcing learning at home, volunteering
at the Pre-K program, attending parent/teacher conferences,
and
participating
in parent education and life skills classes. The rules are
also stricter than preschool: attendance is required, and
after so
many tardies, the student can be kicked out of school. If
transportation is a problem for parents, Pre-K
children [attending public facilities] have access to school
buses, which means they have access
to attend afterschool programs.
How do you know if your child
is ready for Pre-K?
Some
signs that your child is ready for Pre-K include:
- Your child can recognize color
- Your child has some number association
- Your child possesses social readiness skills
- Your child is able to express his creativity
- Your child shows some signs of fine
motor skills
- Your child has a yearning to learn
School Readiness Goals of the Pre-K Program
Language and Literacy
- Understand and tell stories
- Recognize pictures, words, and stories
- Recognize ABCs
- Understand that writing is communication
Math Concepts
- Count and sort objects into groups
- Recognize shapes
- Make comparisons of size, shape, length, and weight
Science
- Explore the natural environment
- Observe seasonal changes
- Communicate observations
- Use tools to measure
Arts
- Express ideas and thoughts in creative ways
- Paint, draw, and sculpt
- Listen to music and sing songs
- Recognize colors
Physical Development
- Move with balance and coordination
- Participate in indoor and outdoor physical activity
- Use writing tools, puzzles, scissors, blocks, clay, and computers
Social Competence
- Play and work cooperatively
- Follow classroom rules
- Interact positively with other children
Goals for Parents
- Actively participate in your child's education
- Understand the correlation between home environment and school
success
- Be aware of available community resources
Common Questions About
Pre-K
By Nancy Omdahl
When and where do I register my child?
It depends on your Pre-K provider. If you are interested in a Pre-K
class at a Clarke County school, for example, you need to register
your child during the regular two-week registration period from
Feb 21 to March 5 along with other Clarke County school children
(5-7 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays in the Clarke
Central cafeteria). Barrow and Jackson County public schools
also have applications available in the spring for their spaces.
Call this month to ask when they are available. Private Pre-K
providers can register children when and how it is convenient
for them, such as a first-come, first-serve line-up in January,
or an application and lottery for space in April. Call the Pre-K
provider you are interested in and ask.
If my child gets a Pre-K spot at a Clarke County public school,
does he or she get a spot there for kindergarten?
Yes. Once your child is enrolled in a Pre-K program at a
Clarke County school, your child is considered enrolled at that
school
and could move up to kindergarten at that school, just as if he
or she were moving up a grade. Keep in mind that there are fewer
Pre-K classes than kindergarten classes in Clarke County, so if
your child doesn't get a Pre-K spot, it doesn't mean there won't
be a spot available there for kindergarten. Also, if your child
has an older sibling at that school, they have a "sibling preference"
for Pre-K at that school.
'For the very first time last year, we
were short 50 spots at Clarke County schools," says Clarke County
Pre-K Director Jan Stephens.
"Usually parents could get their child into the school of their
choice if they registered during that two-week period. Last year
for the first time we had a waiting list. We anticipate a waiting
list this year. Let me emphasize to parents that it does not
matter when during that two-week period you register your child.
If you
register at the beginning you have an equal chance at your first
choice as someone who registers at the end, but it is important
to register during that period. We also work with the private
providers in Clarke County to help you get a spot somewhere."
What about transportation?
Public schools in the area with Pre-K classes bus Pre-K children
to and from the school along with the regular school kids. In
general, private Pre-K providers don't provide transportation.
Call and ask.
Does my child need to be a resident of the county in which he
or she attends Pre-K?
Pre-K classes at public schools require children to be residents
of the county, just as they do their regular school children. Barrow
and Jackson county public schools also require children to be residents
of the public school's defined area. Private providers do not require
county residency.
Resources
ChildCare Partnership Project: www.nccic.org/ccpartnerships/home.htm
Information about Georgia's Pre-K program: http://www.decal.state.ga.us/PreK/PreKMain.aspx
Preschool/Pre-K Locator - searchable list
of facilities licensed by Bright from the Start (includes
information about ages served, services provided and inspection
reports):
http://www.sitesearch.decal.state.ga.us/georgiadecal/public/providersearch.aspx
Local Pre-K programs
For more information see the state website, www.osr.state.ga.us,* for
frequently asked questions, curriculum and certification, a
state-wide
list of providers, and what to bring to registration.
Clarke County
Alps Road Elementary
200 Alps Rd.
Athens, GA 30606-4058
(706) 548-2261
Barnett Shoals Elementary
3220 Barnett Shoals Rd.
Athens, GA 30605-4330
(706) 357-5334
Barrow Elementary
100 Pinecrest Dr.
Athens, GA 30605-1459
(706) 543-2676
Building Blocks Child Care Center
1281 Hull Road
Athens, GA 30601
(706) 354-0878
Champions for Children
810 Olympic Drive
Athens, GA 30601
(706) 546-9446
www.champsforchildren.com
Chase Street Elementary
757 N. Chase St.
Athens, GA 30601-1901
(706) 543-1081
Child Development Center
1425 Prince Ave.
Athens, GA 30606
(706) 543-6113
Childcare Network #31
1145 Cedar Shoals Dr.
Athens, GA 30605
(706) 543-1104
Cleveland Road Elementary
1700 Cleveland Rd.
Bogart, GA 30622-1642
(770) 725-1255
Fourth Street Elementary
715 Fourth St.
Athens, GA 30601-2276
(706) 369-1893
Fowler Drive Elementary
400 Fowler Dr.
Athens, GA 30601-1347
(706) 357-5330
Gaines Elementary
280 Gaines School Rd.
Athens, GA 30605-3156
(706) 357-5338
Kids World of America #34
1850 Timothy Road
Athens, GA 30606
(706) 353-2273
Little Ones Academy (West)
3180 Atlanta Highway
Athens, GA 30606
(706) 354-0636
Magic Years of Learning (Athens)
575 N. Harris St.
Athens, GA 30601
(706) 548-5503
McPhaul Child and Family Development Center
220 Carlton Street
Athens, GA 30602-2623
(706) 542-4929
Oglethorpe Ave Elementary
1150 Oglethorpe Ave.
Athens, GA 30606-2130
(706) 549-0762
Timothy Elementary
1900 Timothy Rd.
Athens, GA 30606-3239
(706) 549-0107
Whit Davis Rd Elementary
1450 Whit Davis Rd.
Athens, GA 30605-4521
(706) 369-1036
Whitehead Road Elementary
500 Whitehead Road
Athens, GA 30606-1602
(706) 548-7296
Winterville Elementary
305 Cherokee Rd.
Winterville, GA 30683
(706) 742-8278
Barrow County
Auburn Elementary
1334 6th Avenue
Auburn, GA 30011
(770) 963-7887
Bethlehem Elementary
47 McElhannon Road
Bethlehem, GA 30620
(770) 867-2238
Bramlett Elementary
622 Freeman Brock Rd.
Auburn, GA 30011
(770) 307-1627
Children's Friend #32
27 South Jackson St.
Winder, GA 30680
(770) 867-5811
County Line Elementary
334 Rockwell Church Road NW
Winder, GA 30680
(770) 867-2902
Holsenbeck Elementary
445 Holsenbeck School Rd.
Winder, GA 30680-1111
(770) 307-1540
Kennedy Elementary
200 Matthews School Rd.
Winder, GA 30680-1111
(770) 867-3182
Learn 'N' Play Childcare
256 West May Street
Winder, GA 30680
(770) 867-4996
Sikes Rockin Horse Ranch
1670 Atlanta Hwy., NW
Auburn, GA 30011
(770) 822-5683
Statham Elementary
1970 Broad St.
Statham, GA 30666-1111
(770) 725-7112
Yargo Elementary School
1000 Haymon Morris Road
Winder, GA 30680
(770) 867-1147
Jackson County
ABC-123 Child Development and Learning Center
4336 Hwy. 53
Hoschton, GA 30548
(706) 654-5437
Benton Elementary
5488 Highway 441 S
Nicholson, GA 30565-2067
(706) 757-2211
Commerce Elementary School
395 Minish Dr.
Commerce, GA 30529
(706) 335-5587
East Jackson Elementary
1531 Hoods Mill Road
Commerce, GA 30529
(706) 336-7900
Fletcher Academy #2
2895 Maysville Highway
Commerce, GA 30529
(706) 335-9400
Jefferson Elementary School
415 Hoschton St.
Jefferson, GA 30549
(706) 367-8242
Kids Academy
695 Lynn Avenue
Jefferson, GA 30549
(706) 367-2222
Maysville Elementary
9270 Highway 82 Spur
Maysville, GA 30558-2101
(706) 652-2241
North Jackson Elementary
8632 US Highway 129 N
Talmo, GA 30575-2309
(706) 693-2246
South Jackson Elementary
8144 Jefferson Rd.
Athens, GA 30607-3261
(706) 543-8798
West Jackson Primary
4825 Highway 53
Braselton, GA 30517-3601
(706) 654-2243
Oconee County
Downs Preschool
3831 Mars Hill Rd.
Watkinsville, GA 30677
(770) 725-1020
Kiddieland Corporation
1941 Hog Mountain Rd.
Watkinsville, GA 30677
(706) 769-6596
Kids 'R Kids #23
1471 Jennings Mill Road
Bogart, GA 30622
(706) 546-9400
Oglethorpe County
Oglethorpe County Child Development Center
Old Fairground Rd.
Lexington, GA 30648
(706) 743-8995
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