FACT SHEET

Wake County SmartStart and the Wake County Pre-K Program

What is Wake County SmartStart?

Founded in 1996, Wake County SmartStart is a public-private, non-profit organization that partners with non-profits in Wake County to provide comprehensive early childhood services for preschool children ages birth to 5 and their families. Wake County SmartStart’s partners, who receive funding from Wake County SmartStart, provide direct services for children and their families.

What is the NC Pre-kindergarten Program?

The NC Prekindergarten program is a high-quality program that serves at-risk children and prepares them for success in school. Children attend a full school day, full school year program that meets high-quality state standards. The program is community based; it is integrated with other early childhood programs in the community and administered at the county or regional level. Children participating in the NC Pre-kindergarten program may be served in classrooms in the public schools, licensed child care centers or Head Start programs. The NC Pre-kindergarten program is formerly known as More at Four.

What is the relationship between Wake County SmartStart and the NC Pre-kindergarten program?

Wake County SmartStart administers the Pre-K program in Wake County, and works in collaboration with the Wake County Public School System, early childhood professionals and Wake County Human Services. The Wake County Pre-K program operates in numerous child care facilities across Wake County with smaller class sizes to prepare children for kindergarten.

Is my child eligible to participate in Pre-K?

The program is available to children who are 4-years-old by August 31 of the program year, will be entering kindergarten the following year, and are at risk for poor school outcomes. Factors that put children at risk for poor school outcomes include low income, limited English proficiency, identified disability, chronic health condition and developmental or educational need. Children of active duty military families are also eligible. Priority is given to eligible children who have not been served in any other preschool or child care program.

Can my 3-year-old participate in Pre-K?

Your child must be 4-years-old by August 31 of the year in which you want to enroll your child in the program. If your child is younger than 4 your child may be eligible to participate in Head Start, a federally-funded preschool program for children birth through 3.

How are classrooms chosen to be a Wake County Pre-K site?

A child care facility must apply to be considered as a Wake County Pre-K program site. To be eligible a center must:

• be willing to accept children receiving subsidy for their care;
• use Creative Curriculum in the Prekindergarten classroom;
• employ staff who meet minimum educational requirements. Lead teachers must have at least an associate’s degree in early childhood education and teaching assistants must have at least a North Carolina Credential. The lead teacher must be willing to complete at least six hours per year towards a B-K North Carolina teacher’s certification. Teaching assistants must be willing to complete at least six hours per year towards an associate’s degree in Early Childhood;
• limit classes to a maximum of 18 children, with a teacher to students ratio of 1 to 9; and
• meet all of the program guidelines mandated by the NC Pre-kindergarten Program.

 

Is there an application process for classroom sites?

As needed, Wake County SmartStart will post the Wake County Pre-K provider application on its Web site.

How can I get more information about Wake County Pre-K?

Call the Wake County Pre-K Information Line at 919-723-9298 in ENGLISH and 919-723-9299 in SPANISH. If you have additional questions, call Wake County SmartStart at 919-851-9550.