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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