Preschool Waiting List

[HappyMOM]

My daughter is 1 1/2. Should I be putting her on a preschool waiting list? I've heard of lots of people in the area, not being able to enroll their children in public preschool because the classes were full.

 

[RoseRed]

Where do you live?

 

[tyky]

I am not sure but I have heard that the public preschools are filled first by children with learning disabilities, ie speech problems, in fact when my son was in a private preschool one of the children was sent to the public school preschool due to his speech impediment. You may just want to call your local school

 

[Purplegirl]

public schools Pre-k each school is only allowed a max of 40 kids (20 in the morning 20 in the afternoon) first priority goes to kids that don't speak english, low income, and so forth. My daughter was not in any of those categories and I signed her up anyways and she did get a spot.

 

[Roxy1104]

At Piney Point, to be accepted into their pre-school program, the children have to pass a test or they don't get in.

 

[lil_daisy]

most private nursery and pre-K programs are enrolling sometime in February, Keep a look out and ask around, make some phone calls now, the ones I've interviewed want a 3 year old potty trained.. that was not an issue. First priority goes to those who have already been enrolled/older siblings.

Pre- K in SM County is just as Purple girl had said low income/ parent in jail, beign raised by grandma, child of multiple birth (Twin/triplets), poverty, impairment that requires a specialty service (speech, Occupational Th. or Physical Therapy) AKA special needs. Those children who meet the above requirements are first come first served, your child will be put on a waiting list, if for example: a child on the immediate list moves then the school officials go over the waiting list, then makes the phone calls. Your son,johnny/juan/jose,/ can come now, there is one more spot available."

Hopefully another elementary school will be able to house a pre-K program besides Dent. This will create more teaching positions, more opportunity for students to receive a free education prior to entering Kindergarten.

 

[Dymphna]

It depends on what you are looking for in a preschool.

If you are looking for a daycare that teaches a preschool curriculum, that's one thing. If you need daycare now, look for one now that has a preschool curriculum and she will transition into the program when the other kids she's in care with now. She will benefit from the consistency....when looking for a daycare with a preschool program, don't assume that means a center. Lots of home daycares do a preschool program that is as good or better than any center. AND if you do have your child in a good daycare, a separate preschool won't help, it may actually be a bad thing...it depends on how well the daycare does a preschool program.

If you don't need daycare, you are just looking for a jumpstart on kindergarten, preschool may or may not be the answer. All the preschools in the world don't mean a thing if you don't interact with your child, read books, talk to them about the world around them. If you put your mind and a little effort to it, you can do better on an informal basis, than any preschool can do in a formal setting. Again, consistency and a familiar setting is a good thing for children that young.

If you are looking for a preschool because you feel your child needs some other interactions besides what you give her, be it the interaction of her peers or other adults or because she seems to have moved beyond the routine parent-child interaction and you don't know what else to do with her or feel you you are out of your depth, or if she has a special need that would benefit from more professional attention, then I would definitely say look at preschools.

If she does seem to have a special need, if she seems in anyway to be developing slower than she should, talk to your doctor and get her evaluated by the health department....if she needs help, she can get help NOW and also have an automatic "in" to public preschool.

If after reading all this, you want to find a preschool program, go ahead and start looking now. Most of them won't be doing waiting lists for a 1-1/2 year old when the program doesn't start until age 3. Only daycare centers do that and if you are not in need of daycare because you work, go to school, etc., don't put your child in an institution like that. That is NOT the place for her. What you want is a partial day program, maybe 2-3 days a week. Not an all day program, with mass produced meals and wondering why Mommy's at home and doesn't want to spend time with her.

Lots of churches offer programs. Even if you aren't a religious sort, these church based programs aren't a bad idea. They don't get too preachy because a 3-yo won't understand it anyway. It doesn't hurt to check around and check out programs. At least you know what's out there when the time comes. You can ask them about registration dates and waiting lists, but most don't take registration more than a few months in advance, so if you really like a program, you can find out when to be the first one in line.

 

[Callie girl]

At Piney Point, to be accepted into their pre-school program, the children have to pass a test or they don't get in.

My son goes there and was not excepted at first but then they had some openings after the first week of school. So you should still try just depends on how many kids with disabilities, low income, etc, that there are in that school district.

 

[Dymphna]

At Piney Point, to be accepted into their pre-school program, the children have to pass a test or they don't get in.

Actually, they have to fail the test.

 

[Dymphna]

most private nursery and pre-K programs are enrolling sometime in February, Keep a look out and ask around, make some phone calls now, the ones I've interviewed want a 3 year old potty trained.. that was not an issue. First priority goes to those who have already been enrolled/older siblings.

Pre- K in SM County is just as Purple girl had said low income/ parent in jail, beign raised by grandma, child of multiple birth (Twin/triplets), poverty, impairment that requires a specialty service (speech, Occupational Th. or Physical Therapy) AKA special needs. Those children who meet the above requirements are first come first served, your child will be put on a waiting list, if for example: a child on the immediate list moves then the school officials go over the waiting list, then makes the phone calls. Your son,johnny/juan/jose,/ can come now, there is one more spot available."

Hopefully another elementary school will be able to house a pre-K program besides Dent. This will create more teaching positions, more opportunity for students to receive a free education prior to entering Kindergarten.

This is the deal...public preschool programs exist in Title I schools (2-3 in the county) and all the rest "share" a program with 1-2 other schools. For example, Lettie Dent has a program that accepts 40 (20 morning 20 afternoon) children from Dent school district, 20 (10 each session) from White Marsh and 20 from Mechanicsville (Dent school district is approx twice as large as the other 2).

My oldest son has a speech delay and got into the program with 2 points on the parent interview...both of the points were related to his speech issue. You get other points for drug addictions, parents in jail, parents deceased, being raised by a grandparent, child having a chronic medical condition like asthma or diabetes, wearing glasses, having a low income, etc.

Then there is the "test" they give the children where they are looking to see if the kid can identify basic objects, stack blocks, recognize a book and which way is up, recognize their name in print and other basic skills.

 

[poster]

My daughter is 1 1/2. Should I be putting her on a preschool waiting list? I've heard of lots of people in the area, not being able to enroll their children in public preschool because the classes were full.

Call often and try to get her in - my biggest mistake was not fighting for enrollment of my daughter in Pre-K she suffers for it. Make a pest of yourself - I know you'll not want to do this but the fact I have learned is that the greasy wheel gets the grease. As unfair as it sounds thats how it seems to work.

As for the "kids are selected based on knowledge" senario, I don't believe that. There were several children not in Title 1 in the program and I was turned down for it because there wasn't space - my child is Title 1. Not to mention some (not all) of those same children's parents were teachers at the school.

 

[StrawberryGal]

My son goes there and was not excepted at first but then they had some openings after the first week of school. So you should still try just depends on how many kids with disabilities, low income, etc, that there are in that school district.

My kids doesn't meet any of these levels to enter Pre-K, but I am a deaf parent. Do children of disability parent/parents can get in pre-k programs? I am just wondering because I am looking into pre-k school for my son.

I would appreciate information about disability parents with normal children.

TIA!

 

[D1VA]

My kids doesn't meet any of these levels to enter Pre-K, but I am a deaf parent. Do children of disability parent/parents can get in pre-k programs? I am just wondering because I am looking into pre-k school for my son.

I would appreciate information about disability parents with normal children.

TIA!

They call that a child who comes from a disadvantage home. I know because I have MS. Kinda crazy but my kids are learning so much. Even a little sign language.

 

[StrawberryGal]

They call that a child who comes from a disadvantage home. I know because I have MS. Kinda crazy but my kids are learning so much. Even a little sign language.

Thank you very much D1VA! That's cool that you all are learning a little sign language.

I didn't know that they call it from a disadvantage home. I guess they call it instead of from a "disability parents' home".

I will be checking into pre-k programs and calling the BOE (Board of Education) about it.

 

[Dymphna]

Thank you very much D1VA! That's cool that you all are learning a little sign language.

I didn't know that they call it from a disadvantage home. I guess they call it instead of from a "disability parents' home".

I will be checking into pre-k programs and calling the BOE (Board of Education) about it.

It never hurts to apply. Lots of children who qualify don't ever apply, that's why my oldest got in with only two "points."

I believe having a parent with a disability is a "point" towards getting in. I don't think it's an automatic "in" But it may also put the person who evaluates your child on alert to look for how your disability might affect your child. My first thought being a language delay, which they might see just because they are looking for it, even if it's not there.

 

[StrawberryGal]

It never hurts to apply. Lots of children who qualify don't ever apply, that's why my oldest got in with only two "points."

I believe having a parent with a disability is a "point" towards getting in. I don't think it's an automatic "in" But it may also put the person who evaluates your child on alert to look for how your disability might affect your child. My first thought being a language delay, which they might see just because they are looking for it, even if it's not there.

Thanks for the information, Dymphna. I had an appt. with Headstart program this morning because someone told me few months ago that I could get my child in no matters how much the household income is. WRONG! I was told that we makes 5 times more than the povery scale and my disability did not count. Therefore, my child was disqualified to get in the pre-k program.

Do you know any places I can get my child in until the fall year starts this fall? I know I need to call BOE to get my child enroll in pre-k for the school year of 2008-2009.

 

[Dymphna]

Thanks for the information, Dymphna. I had an appt. with Headstart program this morning because someone told me few months ago that I could get my child in no matters how much the household income is. WRONG! I was told that we makes 5 times more than the povery scale and my disability did not count. Therefore, my child was disqualified to get in the pre-k program.

Do you know any places I can get my child in until the fall year starts this fall? I know I need to call BOE to get my child enroll in pre-k for the school year of 2008-2009.

Like I said before, there are several churches that do preschool programs for 3 year olds. In the north end of the county, I know there is one at St. Paul's Lutheran on Rt. 6 and one at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Old Village Rd. That second one started out at All Faith Episcopal, and it had to move because the building at All Faith had something wrong, Asbestos/lead paint/mold or something like that. I don't know if the Episcopals rented the Catholic's space or if it's a joint effort or what.

As far as the public pre-k goes, you apply at your local school, usually starting in April for the following fall. Once you apply, they will make an appointment for an interview for both you and your child. If you have an automatic in, they will tell you at the interview, otherwise, they have to wait until August 1st to notify you...People with automatic ins can bump the rest as long as they apply by July 31st.

 

[Callie girl]

Thanks for the information, Dymphna. I had an appt. with Headstart program this morning because someone told me few months ago that I could get my child in no matters how much the household income is. WRONG! I was told that we makes 5 times more than the povery scale and my disability did not count. Therefore, my child was disqualified to get in the pre-k program.

Do you know any places I can get my child in until the fall year starts this fall? I know I need to call BOE to get my child enroll in pre-k for the school year of 2008-2009.

St. Andrews Church. That's where my little one was signed up before he got excepted.

 

[StrawberryGal]

Like I said before, there are several churches that do preschool programs for 3 year olds. In the north end of the county, I know there is one at St. Paul's Lutheran on Rt. 6 and one at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Old Village Rd. That second one started out at All Faith Episcopal, and it had to move because the building at All Faith had something wrong, Asbestos/lead paint/mold or something like that. I don't know if the Episcopals rented the Catholic's space or if it's a joint effort or what.

As far as the public pre-k goes, you apply at your local school, usually starting in April for the following fall. Once you apply, they will make an appointment for an interview for both you and your child. If you have an automatic in, they will tell you at the interview, otherwise, they have to wait until August 1st to notify you...People with automatic ins can bump the rest as long as they apply by July 31st.

Thanks for the information. Those churches are way too far up North of the County. I live on the other end of the county (South).

I will call the BOE next week to make an appointment for the fall school year.

 

[StrawberryGal]

St. Andrews Church. That's where my little one was signed up before he got excepted.

Thanks for the information. Are they based on income or do they have fees for everyone? Also, is the pre-k fees low compare to other places?