Early Childhood

Pre-K E-mail Updates Join our new Pre-Kindergarten e-mail update list to get timely information about the registration and enrollment process.

Prekindergarten programs lay the foundation for lifelong learning. Four-year-olds enter prekindergarten at varying stages of development, so instruction in the prekindergarten classroom recognizes and expands children’s interests, strengths, and abilities. Prekindergarten classes focus on:

• Social and emotional development to foster a child’s sense of self, enhance his or her ability to make friends, and create openness to learning. 
• Physical development to strengthen large and small muscles, coordinate movement, and improve overall health and growth.
• Creative expression and aesthetic development to foster a child’s appreciation for the arts — music, movement, dramatic play, and the visual arts.
• Cognitive development to promote intellectual growth and school success. When children use their language, literacy, mathematical and scientific thinking, and social studies cognitive skills to think, problem solve, and communicate, they are making sense of their world.

Prekindergarten programs also incorporate health, nutrition, social services, and parent and community involvement. In collaboration with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), prekindergarten students receive a vision screening early in the school year to detect visual acuity problems before they impact learning. Also collaboration with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) program provides all prekindergarten children with a half-hour of structured and developmentally appropriate physical fitness activities.

Children who will be four years old by December 31 are eligible to enroll in prekindergarten. To find out more and to apply, click here.

The DOE is working to expand the number of available prekindergarten programs, with a special focus on full-day programs.