Pre-Kindergarten Program

The overall goal of the Pre-K program is to help children develop and maintain the basic skills necessary to be successful in school. QACPS provides Pre-K for all economically disadvantaged and homeless students that reach age four by September 1 in accordance with COMAR requirements. After the initial enrollment of these children, remaining vacancies are filled by children who exhibit a lack of readiness in one or more of the following areas: personal and social development, language and literacy, mathematical and scientific thinking, social studies, the arts, and physical development and health. 

Children enrolled in Pre-K learn to:

• Interact with people, places, and things in appropriate ways
• Use a variety of modes to express experiences and thoughts and interpret messages
• Engage in information-seeking behaviors
• Develop confidence in oneself
• Integrate prior knowledge in the learning process
• Use movement and play in the learning process
• Acquire positive, effective social habits

Children who will be four years old on or before September 1 and who reside in Queen Anne’s County are eligible to apply for the Pre-K program. 

The enrollment process will be online for the 2023-2024 school year.  After enrollment, a screening will be used to help determine each child’s level of school readiness.  The dates for these screenings will be determined by the school after enrollment has been completed.  Students will not be considered eligible for a spot until their enrollment is complete with all documents uploaded.

To begin your online enrollment, please gather the following documents:

• Child’s birth certificate
• Child’s completed Immunization and Health Inventory forms
• Lead testing form
• Income Verification Documentation
• Proof of Residency (one of the following)
  • Electric, gas, or water bill, or
  • Property tax/real estate bill, or
  • Lease or rental agreement, or
  • Contract of sale (including settlement or mortgage statement), or
  • Homeowners/Renters insurance statement/policy

Prekindergarten is an income-eligible program. Therefore, income documents are required for enrollment.  Your income-eligibility form will be completed during the application process. You will need to bring upload of the following:

• Federal Income Tax Return (1040 statement) along with documentation related to other sources of income such as child support and/or rental income.
• W2
• C/1099
• Notarized Letter of No Income
• Notarized Employment Letter
• Military Income
• Current award letter for Temporary Cash Assistance.
• Proof of unemployment benefits.

Tier I Students:

Due to the PK Expansion grant under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, Tier I students must be accepted into PK.  

Tier 1 includes:

• Economically Disadvantaged
• Students Experiencing Homelessness
• Students who have an IEP for any disability, including Speech
• Students who speak another language besides English in the home

Notification of Enrollment

Notification of enrollment in pre-kindergarten will occur on a rolling basis for students who are eligible.  If there are remaining vacancies in the Pre-K program, parents of students not enrolled in the first round will be entered into the lottery.  The lottery will take place twice, once at the beginning of June and again mid July for remaining spots. 

All further questions regarding PK enrollment can be directed to Cheryl Cox, Supervisor of Early Learning at cheryl.cox@qacsps.org.

Pre-K Registration Dates for the 2023-24 School Year –

Blended Pre-K for 3 year olds and 4 year olds at CES and KIES

Forms

Pre-K Income Eligibility Form

Spanish Pre-K Income Eligibility Form

Health & Vaccine Form 

Physical Exam Form

Lead Testing Form 

Proof of Residency 

Prior Care Form

Maryland Early Learning Standards

Programs for Pre-School Children

Maryland School Guide – English

Maryland School Guide – Spanish

Cheryl Cox, Supervisor, Early Childhood
Queen Anne’s County Board of Education
202 Chesterfield Avenue
Centreville, MD 21617
(410) 758-2403, Ext. 197
cheryl.cox@qacps.org