Public Schools For Pre K Near Me
Public schools for pre k near me offer kids an exciting start to school. They have teachers who cherish this early stage and curriculum recognized for helping children build the skills they need to take on the next steps.
Look for a building that looks clean and well maintained. Check if someone greets you at the front door and if there is information for parents on display.
Safety
Young children are sensitive to changes in routine and they often gauge how serious a situation is by adult reactions. Parents can help by providing brief simple information balanced with reassurance. For example, you can remind them that school buildings are locked and that teachers will be available to protect them.
DCPS does not have enough seats in neighborhood schools for all of the city’s 4-year-olds, so it contracts with private child care centers, religious schools and community centers to provide additional seats. Children who are accepted into a program are guaranteed a seat.
In addition to classrooms, most DCPS preschools also offer before and afterschool programs. These are a great way to help your child get ready for kindergarten, and many schools also offer supper as part of the program. Typically, these programs cost on a sliding scale. Some also offer social work services, which may be useful for families with challenging situations. Families enrolled in these programs have opportunities to serve on school-based parent committees to have a say in how the program is designed.
Environment
Schools can promote a green environment in many ways. They can recycle, reduce waste, save energy, avoid runoff pollution and eliminate toxic materials. They can also educate students about the importance of environmental stewardship.
Good teachers foster independence by teaching kids how to hang up their own coats, use the bathroom and clean up. They often label objects so children can start to pair words and pictures, and they provide step-by-step pictures for procedures like hand washing. They encourage students to ask questions and solve problems in a safe, nurturing learning community.
New York City provides all four-year-olds with free, full-day high-quality preschool through the public school system. The application process begins in the fall of a child’s fourth birthday year. The city recently expanded the program to three-year-olds, launching 3-K for All in School Districts 4 (East Harlem), 5 (Harlem), 7 (South Bronx), 16 (Bedford-Stuyvesant) and 23 (Brownsville, East New York, Ocean Hill). This is the first time a city has attempted such an ambitious plan.
Teachers
The best teachers at pre-k schools have a four-year degree that includes teacher certification in early childhood education. They understand the development of young children, and know how to engage students with hands-on activities.
The city doesn’t have room in ordinary neighborhood schools for all 4-year-olds, so it contracts with day care centers, private nursery schools, faith-based organizations and community centers to provide seats. These freestanding “pre-k centers” are open for just one year (or two years if they serve 3-K) and are not part of a district school building.
NYC Public Schools also operates a number of “pre-K for All” programs that are integrated into district school buildings and run the same way as other grades in the building. Teachers are certified and regular Department of Education employees. These are referred to as District School programs. The school should offer a welcoming experience when you first walk in, with someone to greet you and information for parents.
Activities
For this age group, the best schools offer engaging activities that foster joy in learning. Look for schools with a variety of materials, including blocks and dress-up games that help children build fine motor skills. You also want to find a school that cultivates curiosity in students. Children this young are naturally curious about the world around them, and a good school will encourage their explorations.
Most ordinary neighborhood schools don’t have room for all the city’s 4-year-olds, so NYC contracts with private day-care centers and community organizations to create pre-k seats. It also operates freestanding “pre-k centers,” which kids attend for one year (or two years if they’re 3-year-olds). It also offers limited spots in some district schools, where the children are fully integrated into the school community. These programs enroll 68,000 four-year-olds each year. In 2018, the city further expanded its commitment to high-quality education by launching 3-K for All, which provides every three-year-old with access to free, full-day public preschool in School Districts 4 (East Harlem), 5 (Harlem), 7 (South Bronx) and 23 (Brownsville, East New York, Ocean Hill). The goal is to give all children the same high-quality education that is available to their richer peers.