Teaching and Learning - Pre-K Early Success Centers

Muscogee County School District’s Pre-K Program-----“Excellence in Education Starts Early”

Funded through the Georgia Lottery, Muscogee County Schools’ Pre-K Program provides positive learning experiences and skill development. This program is free for all students who meet the eligibility requirements.

Our focus is to provide four year old children with learning experiences that will prepare them for kindergarten and academic success throughout their educational journey. We strive to provide enriching experiences for young children that will give the best possible start to school readiness.

Muscogee County Schools’ Pre-Kindergarten program helps children become independent.
Muscogee County School District has 48 classes at 18 different schools. Our program provides a full day (6.5 hours) of appropriate instructional services to students for the regular school calendar year.

A maximum of twenty-two (22) students receive services in each class. Each classroom has a qualified lead teacher and trained teacher assistant. More information about the Georgia Lottery funded Pre-K program can be obtained by going to www.decal.ga.gov.

1. Children who are four (4) years of age on or before September 1, 2023 and live within the Muscogee County Schools attendance zone are eligible to enroll in the program.
2. Children are eligible to attend Georgia’s Pre-K for one year only.
3. Children with a late birth date and are not eligible to attend kindergarten may be eligible to enroll-September 2, 2018-December 31, 2018. A parent acknowledgment form must be completed during the application process. Please contact the Pre-K Department for the form. If you are the parent of twins, triplets, etc., you are required to submit one application per child.
4. If your child is pulled as number 22 on the list, you will have the option to accept one seat for one twin and place the other on the Waiting List. The second option is to wait until all siblings are offered a seat.

*Note: If you are the parent of twins, triplets, etc., you are required to submit one application per child.

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Ongoing Applications will be accepted for the 2023-2024 school year

What steps should I complete for my child to be eligible to participate in the Pre-K Program?
Step 1: Complete an on-line Pre-K application beginning January 5, 2023. Once you submit the application, you will receive an email confirmation.

• Before beginning the application, use your cellphone to take a clear picture of the following documents to upload in the application:
  • child’s age (your child’s birth certificate, passport, or etc.)
    and
  • proof of Georgia Residency (using your cellphone, take a clear picture of a current utility bill and current lease/mortgage statement) before beginning the application.

Step 2: All applications received during the window will be entered into the computerized lottery drawing. The computer program will randomly select the students to participate.
Step 3: Parents who participate during the lottery window will receive an email notification of the results on February 27, 2023- acceptance or placed on the waiting list.
Step 4: Lottery winners parents should complete the Online Registration Process and upload required documents at muscogee.k12.ga.us by the deadline given in the email beginning March 1, 2023.

Note: Note: Submission of the application does NOT guarantee the enrollment. Selection is based on a random computer lottery and the waiting list process (based on the date the application is received).

What happens if my child is not selected during the lottery process?
The children are placed on the waiting list. When a vacancy occurs, the parents of the next child on the waiting list will be contacted via telephone. Parents will have 24 hours to notify the Pre-K Department of their decision to either accept or decline the seat offered. If the seat is declined, the next family on the waiting list will be contacted.

Can a parent apply after the initial lottery process?
Yes. Parents who wish to apply must complete an on-line Pre-K application. We accept applications until the end of the next school term. When an opening becomes available, you will be contacted via telephone

REQUIRED registration documentation for Pre-K enrollment, when your child is accepted into the program:

• Birth Certificate or Passport of child being enrolled
• Social Security Card of child being enrolled (waiver forms may be issued if needed)
• Parent/Guardian Driver’s License or other state issued ID
• Custody documents if applicable
• Georgia Immunization Certificate-form #3231 (students may be enrolled provisionally with waiver issued by the school)
• Proof of Residency: (TWO items from the following list- (if proofs are not in parent’s or legal guardian’s name, the person whose name is on the proofs must be present to complete the Affidavit of Residency for registration at the assigned school or the Pre-K Department)
  • Current Mortgage document which indicates the location of the residence
  • Apartment/home lease or rental agreement indicating current address
  • Current electric, water, gas bill showing service address
  • Property tax records which indicates the location of the residence

A blended classroom is defined as a class that has funding which is braided using both Georgia’s Pre-K and Head Start dollars. Pre-K funding is used for the 6.5 hours of instruction and Head Start funding is used for the wrap-around support services. Our Blended Pre-K classrooms are located at Dorothy Height Elementary (1 class), Lonnie Jackson Academy (1 class), and Forrest Road Elementary (1 class). The maximum number of students per class is 20.

Note: if your child is accepted in a Blended Pre-Kindergarten Classroom, the following additional documents will be required for enrollment: Health Determination Form and Dental Examination Form.

Pre-K students who that attend zoned schools are eligible for transportation through the Muscogee County Board of Education. Parents may request bus transportation after your child has been accepted into the program and completed the Online Registration Process-Muscogee Bus Transportation Request App.

For additional information, please call the Pre-K department secretary, Ms. Wooten at 706-748-2118 or wooten.keasha.n@muscogee.k12.ga.us.
Columbus GA Daycare with Lottery Funded GA Pre-K
Reading Tips for Parents of Pre-K Students
Ordering a Birth Certificate
Social Security Number Waiver
GA Form 3300-Vision, Hearing, Dental, Nutrition Screening Form
District Provisional Form 3300 Waiver
GA Form 3231-Certificate of Immunization
District Provisional Immunization Waiver

Preparing for Pre-K (http://www.leapfrog.com/en-us/learning-path/pre-k)
Phonological Awareness in Pre-K (http://www.readingrockets.org/helping/target/phonologicalphonemic)
Preschool Reading Readiness (http://www.greatschools.org/preschool-reading-readiness.topic?content=4980)
Reading Readiness for Kindergarten (http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Pre_Kindergarten_Reading_Skills/)
Bright from the Start Georgia Early Learning Development Standards - GELDS (http://gelds.decal.ga.gov/Default.aspx)
DECAL Bright from the Start (http://decal.ga.gov/Prek/PreKHome.aspx)
Funbrain Reading and More (http://www.funbrain.com/brain/ReadingBrain/ReadingBrain.html)
Get Ready to Read! (http://www.getreadytoread.org/)
Starfall Reading (http://www.starfall.com/)
PBS Kids Reading Games (http://pbskids.org/games/reading/)


KINDERGARTEN TRANSITIONING INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
Kindergarten Transitioning Tips (http://archives.gadoe.org/DMGetDocument.aspx/Transition%20to%20Kindergarten%20Handout.pdf?p=6CC6799F8C1371F6968B33B622C6AC062E478F6F9D49B440AD8088E282AEA642&Type=D)
Scholastic Kindergarten Readiness Tips (http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/what-to-expect-grade/ready-kindergarten)
Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developmental Skills - GKIDS (https://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/GKIDS.aspx)
Georgia's Kindergarten Performance Standards (https://www.georgiastandards.org/standards/Pages/BrowseStandards/GPS_by_Grade_Level_K-8.aspx)