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DTECPS → Prekindergarten Information

Prekindergarten & Head Start

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Prekindergarten/Head Start programs and our Private Provider Partnerships  provide a high-quality educational experience for income-eligible children in order to prepare them with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary for school success in kindergarten and beyond. MCPS offers part-day and full-day programs at schools across the county. 

Entrance into a Prekindergarten and Head Start programs is determined by age, income and residency. Children who will be 3 years old or 4 years old by September 1 can apply for our programs. Interested parents must apply through ParentVue using the Registration information below or by contacting a Private Provider Partner.  

PREKINDERGARTEN & HEAD START ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Are you new to MCPS?/Eres nuevo en MCPS?

Create a new ParentVUE account

Are you already an MCPS parent/guardian/ Ya eres padre/guardian de MCPS?

Use your ParentVUE account

 

In-Person Registration Support 

Available Monday-Friday, 9am - 4pm 

4910 Macon Road, Rockville, MD 20852

MCPS PREKINDERGARTEN & HEAD START REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

 

PRIVATE PROVIDER PARTNERS

Click here for a full list of Pre-K Private Provider Child Care Partnerships. If you click here you will be leaving the MCPS website and going to a partner information page. 

Haga clic aquí para obtener una lista completa de las Asociaciones de Proveedores Privados de Pre-K con MCPS. Si hace clic aquí, saldrá del sitio web de MCPS e irá a una página de información de socios.

PROGRAM LOCATIONS

Common Questions

Are the programs full day or part day?

  • Prekindergarten and Head Start provide a variety of full day and part-day options, which vary according to location. Part-day Head Start classes are 3 hours and 15 minutes long. Part-day Prekindergarten classes are  2 hours and 30 minutes long. Full day programs follow the regular hours of the school.

Where will my child be assigned?

  • Based on space, availability, and income-eligibility children will be assigned to a school location once the registration process is complete.
  • Parents may request MCPS transportation services. These requests may be approved or denied following route analysis. MCPS does not guarantee bus transportation service for all children who enroll in Prekindergarten and Head Start. 

What are the components of the program?

  • Cognitively stimulating curriculum with a strong emphasis on literacy and mathematics
  • Age-appropriate science, social studies, art, music, technology and physical education experiences
  • Attention to the whole child, including his/her social, emotional, and physical/motor development
  • Family involvement including regular communication as well as opportunities and encouragement for parents to be engaged in their children's education
  • Health, dental, nutrition, and family support services provided

Am I income-eligible?

  • Families at up to 300% of the federal poverty guidelines for 2024 are income-eligible for Prekindergarten. For more information about federal poverty guidelines click here.
  • Other eligibility factors include McKinney-Vento (Homeless) Status, Foster Care, SNAP Participation.

Guides AND RESOURCES  

This guide provides a program overview and other information for parents/guardians 

    This guide provides useful, community resources/information for families with preschool age children