Charles Co. System accepting prekindergarten applications starting April 15, program based on eligibility

The application process for the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) prekindergarten program begins Monday, April 15. Students must be 4 years old by Sept. 1 to be eligible for prekindergarten. Admission is based on criteria and guidelines set by the Maryland State Department of Education and is not guaranteed.

New this school year is an online prekindergarten application process. Online registration for both current and new CCPS families’ opens Monday, April 15 at 8 a.m. Parents can also contact their child’s zoned elementary school to request information on how to register in person at school. School zone information is available on the school system website at http://redistrictingschoollocator.ccboe.com/default.aspx?load=addressInput.

Parents with students already enrolled in CCPS can complete the application for another child using an active ParentVue account. Click here to access the ParentVue login page. On April 15, a registration tab will be active in the upper right-hand corner of all active ParentVue accounts. Click the tab to begin the prekindergarten application process.

Parents new to CCPS must first create a ParentVue account to register online using a valid email address. Click here to start the registration process. The system will not accept new accounts until April 15 and parents will need to determine through School Locator what school their child is zoned to attend.

New users must select create new account from the more options menu area (located underneath the word Login). The online registration process requires users to upload document copies and/or images of required documents. A school staff member will review all online registrations for required information.

Placement in prekindergarten is based on student need in the following categories.

Category one
(guaranteed admission) – children who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals (verified through three recent paycheck stubs for an income earner in the household); qualify for homeless status or foster care (CCPS staff will verify); or receive food supplements (parent/guardian must provide food supplement eligibility letter including dates and names of household members).

Category two
(next priority level, admission is not guaranteed and student must meet one or more criteria) – family income falls within 10 percent of the limit for category one; child has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for speech/articulation; child speaks another language at home; child participated in Head Start within the past 12 months; or child has certain family circumstances (elderly guardian, parent has diagnosed chronic illness that impacts his/her ability to care for the child, or parent is/will be deployed for six months or more).

Category three
– children who are not eligible for categories one or two whose parents/families want them to be considered for admission if vacancies exist. Vacancies are determined after all category one and category two placements are made. Admission is not guaranteed for category three applicants. Category three applicants will be placed on the waiting list in order by their birthdate with the oldest children being placed first if vacancies exist, beginning with September birthdates.

Category two and three applications received after Aug. 30, 2019, will be placed at the end of the waiting list.

Category one applications received between April 15 and June 15 will be processed upon receipt, and families will be notified within two weeks of submitting a completed application. Both category two and category three applicants will be notified of program admission at a later date, possibly after the start of the 2019-20 school year.

In order to comply with state regulations for prekindergarten class size, eligible category one students will be placed at their zoned home school until the class reaches capacity. Eligible category one students who apply after the home school class is full will be offered placement at another school, but parents will have to provide transportation.

CCPS requires several documents to register a child for school. A list of required materials is posted at https://www.ccboe.com/ss/how-to-register/. Call your child’s school with additional questions about the prekindergarten registration process.

About CCPS


Charles County Public Schools provides 27,108 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 36 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 coordinator (employees/adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.

[ This article originally appeared here ]
 
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