(Washington, DC) Ready for Pre-K! is a new DC Public Schools (DCPS) initiative dedicated to help parents and caregivers of two-year-olds support their child’s development and learning at home. This month, Ready for Pre-K! launches a new video series for toddlers and their families, continues its ongoing series of virtual workshops for parents, and reminds families to apply to DCPS PK3 and PK4 programs through the My School DC lottery by March 1.
Washington, DC has a long history as a leader in providing early childhood education dating back to the 1960s and leads the nation in access to Pre-K for both 3- and 4-year-old children. Access to high-quality, affordable childcare is a critical need for families across the District, and DCPS is proud to provide free Pre-K at every one of our elementary schools to ensure all of our young learners are ready for kindergarten. Each year, DCPS enrolls more than 5,000 preschool students.
“We know that families are children’s first and most important teachers. Long before children start school, they are growing and developing key skills that lay the foundation for later learning,” said DCPS Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee. “Ready for Pre-K! helps families gain insight into child development, ask questions, access a variety of educational resources, and get to know DCPS.”
Meet Scribbles on Ready for Pre-K! Videos
RSVP for Virtual Workshops this Month
Ready for Pre-K! virtual learning sessions for parents and caregivers focus on a different area of learning that is closely related to children’s success in prekindergarten and beyond. Sessions begin this week and continue over the coming months. RSVP for an upcoming event and explore the full schedule at bit.ly/dcpsecersvp.
- February 2 at 5:30 pm – Elegir el mejor programa para su familia: Pre-Kinder en las DCPS (Choosing the Best Program for Your Family: Pre-K in DCPS; session will be in Spanish)
- February 11 at 11 am – Choosing the Right Program: Your Questions about Pre-K at DCPS Answered!
- February 16 at 6 pm – For Families Who Want to be Allies: Talking to Young Children About Race with Dr. Traci Baxley
Complete DCPS Pre-K Application for Next School Year
To enroll new 3- and 4-year-olds in school, families must apply through the My School DC lottery. Families may enroll children in PK3 if the child is at least 3 years old and in PK4 if the child is at least 4 years old, respectively, by September 30. The deadline to apply for the upcoming 2022-2023 School Year is March 1, 2022.
The DCPS Early Action Pre-Kindergarten program provides guaranteed access for in-boundary students applying to Pre-K at participating schools. Through the new DCPS Equitable Access Designated Seats Program, eligible students from all 8 wards will receive additional considerations in the lottery when they apply to four of the citywide Pre-K programs open to all DC students. The Equitable Access Designated Seats Program also applies to Pre-K students who meet the criteria and who live in the school boundaries at five selected neighborhood schools.
Stay up to date on Ready for Pre-K! announcements online at www.readyforprek.org and follow the DCPS Early Childhood Education Division on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. Ready for Pre-K! is supported by the Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation.