What are my options with kids under 5 years old?
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Anonymous
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hi everyone,
I have one year old twins and am not yet familiar with how the school system works in this area. What's the earliest my kids can enter the public school/ kindergarten system? Is it at age 5? Is there nothing public/ free under the age of 5? We currently live in NW DC, but will probably have to move to Montgomery County for the public school system. Thanks! |
Anonymous
| In Montgomery County, free public school starts at kindergarten, and they have to be 5 by September 1st. If they will turn 5 before mid-October (I think the date is 10/15, but not sure) you can apply for early entrance, but the application process and tests are difficult. |
Anonymous
There is pre-K for children who are 4 by September 1, through Head Start. http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/earlychildhood/prek/registration.aspx |
Anonymous
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FYI, OP, MoCo also has free public schooling for younger children with SN.
But if you're looking to find free public programs at an earlier age, maybe you should stay put - DCPS starts at 3yo. |
Anonymous
This is for low income only. |
Anonymous
| Yes, there are income requirements for eligibility for Head Start, including MCPS pre-K through Head Start. |
Anonymous
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DCps includes preK for all, mcps does not.
Move in between these years, and keep an eye on any mcps deterioration in the meantime. |
Anonymous
| If you can afford Montessori for a few years do that. Worth it, |
Anonymous
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DD was accepted EEK and was 4 when she began kindergarten (but turned five the second week of school).
Good luck! |
Anonymous
Moco has a September 1 cutoff. So kids have to be 5 by that date to start K. If they are not, they go to preschool, pre-k, daycare or whatever you want to call it. Nothing is free in moco unless you qualify via your income (which I assume would have to be on the lower side). Of course, you could see if they can get into a private K and then redo K in public the next year. If they turn 5 within the first 6 weeks of school you can have them tested in to K early. It's not that easy to do though. Of course, nothing states they have to do preschool of any kind before K. If you are a SAHM they can just stay at home with you. That's free. Or, you can have them do a 2-3 morning a week preschool (or a co-op of some sort). If you work, then it's most likely going to be full-time daycare with a preschool component that you will pay for. |