Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Enrollment
Pre-K Program Overview
The goal of the Wilson County Schools Voluntary Pre-K Program is to provide 4-year old children with the learning experiences they need in order to help them succeed in Kindergarten.The Pre-K Program helps prepare children for school by providing an opportunity for them to develop school readiness skills in an environment that fosters the love and joy of learning.Participation in the Pre-K Program helps children develop pre-academic and social skills that will help them in their educational career.
Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Application
Applications open February 26, 2024 for the 2024-2025 School Year
Pre-K Program Information
- Qualifying for the Pre-K Program
- Application Directions
- Application Documents
- Zoned School & Transportation
- Pre-K Program FAQ
Qualifying for the Pre-K Program
The Wilson County Schools Pre-Kindergarten Program targets at-risk 4-year olds, with first priority given to children whose family income meets the federal poverty guidelines. The following information will help answer your questions about the program. If you have additional questions, please email Brooke Carr, Pre-K Lead.
Enrollment Priorities
1st Priority for enrollment is given to children who:
- Turn four years old by August 15, 2024 and
- The family meets federal income poverty guidelines
If spaces are still available, enrollment is given to children who do not meet the federal poverty guidelines, but they have at-risk factors included, but not limited to the following
- Have an IEP (Individualized Education Plan)
- Are in State or Foster Care
- Are an English Language Learner
- Have a parent deployed in active military duty
Any additional spaces will be filled from the waitlist, based on at-risk factors determined by the Community Pre-K Advisory Council and date of completed application. Families will be notified after September 15 if additional spaces are available.
This is an application process. Admittance to the program is based on the priorities listed above.
Application Directions
- Visit New Student Enrollment
- Scroll to Instructions for Completing New Student Enrollment
- Read through the two options (currently have a student enrolled in WCS and need to enroll a new student OR you are new to the WCS system)
- Follow the directions under the option that applies to you
- Complete P4 application and upload required documents. You will not be able to go back in and upload documents once submitted.
- Once you have submitted your complete application, the Pre-K department will review and process your application, and someone will contact you regarding your application status.
Application Documents
Please have the following documents available to upload to your application:
If your income verification is not uploaded to your child’s application, our department will not be able to process your application. The application will remain incomplete until proof of income is submitted. Once you submit your application online you will NOT be able to go back in and upload additional documents. Please make sure you are completing the P4 application (Pre-K 4 year old).
- Official Birth Certificate
- must be the official birth certificate not the mother’s copy
- Current Shot Record (with signed physical)
- the physical section 1b will need to be signed and dated by the physician. It must be within one year of the start of school (August 2024) per board policy. If your child will need updated shots and a physical during the summer that is fine. You can upload the shot record that you currently have and email me the updated form when you receive it. Your child will not be able to begin school without this.
- W-2s or most recent tax return
- VPK is an income based Pre-K. You must provide proof of income for each parent/guardian in the household in order for us to process your child’s application. The first priority for enrollment is given to families who meet the 2024 US Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines. Even if you do not believe you will qualify based on income, you must still provide proof of income. If you do not have a W-2 or most recent tax return, you can provide 4 consecutive pay stubs for each parent / guardian working in the household.
- Two Proofs of Residence Examples:
- TN Driver’s License or Photo I.D. with current address
- Mortgage/Lease Statement for current address
- Current Public Utility Bill such as water, gas, electric or landline phone bill (cell phone bill not accepted). Utility bills provided as proof of residence must be dated within 30 days prior to enrollment.
- Motor vehicle registration with current address
- Current employment record (Example: most recent check stub with home address)
- Voter’s Registration Card
- Documentation from TN Department of Human/Children’s Services for benefits with current address
- Driver’s License or Photo ID of parent/guardian
- this can include a passport or other form of photo ID. If the current address is listed this can be used as one of your proof of residences.
- Custody Papers with Parenting Plan (if applicable)
- IEP and/or Evaluation (if applicable)
Zoned School & Transportation
If you need help finding what school you are zoned for, visit the Bus Route Lookup. Choose K or 1st for the grade. If you choose P4 it will say "not available" because bus transportation is not provided for Voluntary Pre-K. Parents must provide transportation to and from school.
Because we do not have a VPK at all elementary schools, your child can attend Pre-K at another school and will return to their zoned school for Kindergarten. You can still input your zoned school on your child’s application and we will check to see which school with VPK is nearest to your home.
Pre-K Program FAQ
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER REGISTRATION?
The income eligibility worksheet will be reviewed by the Wilson County Schools Pre-K staff to determine eligibility. The Pre-K Lead will review the At-Risk questionnaires to take into consideration any other eligibility factors.
WHEN WILL I FIND OUT IF MY CHILD IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE PRE-K PROGRAM?
Once we have received all required documents and determined your family's income eligibility, you will be contacted to let you know whether or not your child meets the priority placement in the Pre-K program by June 1, 2024.
WHAT IF MY CHILD DOES NOT QUALIFY?
Your child’s name will be placed on a waiting list. Any additional spaces will be filled based on at-risk factors determined by the Community Pre-K Advisory Council and date application is completed. If seats are available after September 15, you will be notified if your child is next on the list. If space becomes available throughout the year, we will contact you to see if you would still like placement for your child.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IF MY CHILD IS ACCEPTED IN THE PRE-K PROGRAM?
We will verify that all required documents have been uploaded to Skyward. You will need to upload your child’s birth certificate, social security card, complete immunizations and current physical with physician signature, W-2s or tax return for 2023, two proofs of residence, custody papers (if applicable) physical and dental forms before school starts. If you are unable to upload these documents you can mail a copy to Voluntary Pre-K 415 Harding Drive, Lebanon, TN 37087.
IS BUS TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE FOR PRE-K STUDENTS?
Transportation is provided by the parents or guardians. is not provided by Wilson County Schools.
WHERE ARE THE PRE-K CLASSES LOCATED?
Current Locations:
-
Carroll Oakland School
-
Elzie Patton Elementary
-
Rutland Elementary
-
Southside School
-
Springdale Elementary
- Stoner Creek (2)
-
W.A. Wright Elementary (2)
-
Watertown Elementary
WHERE WOULD MY CHILD ATTEND PRE-K IF A CLASS IS NOT LOCATED IN OUR ZONED SCHOOL?
Eligible students zoned to a school that has a Pre-K class get first priority for that school until class is full. If space is available at a class near you, your child will be able to attend that Pre-K class even though it is not your zoned school. Pre-K is voluntary and parents provide transportation.
IS THERE A CHARGE FOR MY CHILD TO ATTEND THE PRE-K PROGRAM?
There is not a charge for children to attend the Pre-K program. If you do not qualify for free or reduced meals, you will be required to pay for breakfast and lunch provided by the school cafeteria. Lunches from home are permitted.
WHAT ARE THE PRE-K CLASS HOURS?
Pre-K students go to school 6 hours each school day. Typically, Pre-K students start school 15 minutes after all other students begin and end 1 hour before all other students dismiss. VPK hours are Monday-Friday, 7:45am-1:45pm.
DO PRE-K STUDENTS COME TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY?
Yes. Daily attendance is critical for your child in order to be ready for Kindergarten. When a child is absent, please send a doctors excuse or parent note to school the next day. Students that miss consistently may be asked to give up their spot in the class to another eligible child. VPK adheres to the WCS attendance policy.
IS BEFORE AND AFTER DAYCARE AVAILABLE FOR PRE-K STUDENTS AT THE SCHOOL?
Wilson County Schools does not provide any before or after daycare for our students.
WHAT DO PRE-K STUDENTS WEAR TO SCHOOL?
Pre-K students follow the standard dress code adopted by the Wilson County Board of Education. A copy of the dress code is available on the Wilson County Schools website.
IS BREAKFAST AND LUNCH AVAILABLE FOR PRE-K STUDENTS?
Yes. Children in the Pre-K program are offered a nutritious breakfast and lunch through our cafeteria and a classroom snack daily. Our school nutrition staff offers a variety of choices for your child. Meals are teaching and learning time. We encourage children to try new foods and expand their tastes. Many children are "picky" eaters; therefore, packed lunches are allowed to be sent in from home for your child. If you do not qualify for free/reduced meals, you will be required to pay for lunch provided by the school cafeteria, if you so choose.
WHAT DO CHILDREN DO IN THE PRE-K PROGRAM?
When you walk into our high-quality Pre-K classrooms, you will see children involved in active, hands-on learning that engages each child and fosters a love of learning. Activities are designed to enhance a child’s natural curiosity and desire to learn through participation in both large and small group activities. Play is essential to the development of strong learners. We follow the TN Early Learning Developmental Standards and the TN Childcare Rules and Regulations that state that children must show evidence that they can follow self-care routines.
For more information on applying, visit Pre-K Program Enrollment.
Pre-K Program Resources
Note to Parents
The Wilson County Pre-Kindergarten program is where your child can learn and grow. Our purpose is to help children prepare to enter school, to encourage a healthy respect for self and others, and to enrich and involve children in order to kindle a zest for future learning and growth.
You will become a member of the team required to make each child’s school experience a success. As a parent, you are your child first, and most important teacher.
Please help your child to grow in confidence by:
- Read to your child each night. It’s a time they will cherish for a lifetime.
- Keep adult conversations and worries away from the children. What children hear at home, they repeat at school.
- Provide opportunities for your child to play away from the television, technology, or stereo. Children learn through creative, active play opportunities.
- Send them off to school each day with a hug and kiss. Let them know you will be waiting for them at the end of the school day.
- eating together as a family
- passing along your family’s traditions
- both determining your rules and follow them
Pre-K Curriculum
In Pre-K, we use the Connect 4 Learning curriculum. This curriculum offers practices and concepts to apply across math, science, literacy and social-emotional learning while preserving what is distinctive about each of them.
C4L starts with sequences of science and math topics, while providing considerable time for literacy and social-emotional learning. The content is not segmented. Rather, you will find that most lessons support learning in more than one domain.
In addition to domain-specific content, teachers work with thinking processes and goals that are consistent across all four domains:
- Communicating and representing
- Cooperating
- Comparing and classifying
- Creating, imagining, and innovating
- Curiosity
- Observing
- Persisting, attending, and self-regulation
- Reasoning and problem solving
- Making sense
- Using tools strategically
Books from Birth
The mission of Governor's Books from Birth Foundation (GBBF) is to promote early childhood literacy in Tennessee's birth to age five population. In partnership with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, GBBF gives all preschoolers in Tennessee the opportunity to receive books in the mail at no cost to families. Our vision is a Tennessee where all preschool children have books in their homes, develop a love of reading and learning, and begin school prepared to succeed, from kindergarten throughout their educational journeys.
Each month a new, carefully selected book will be mailed in you child’s name directly to your home. He/she can look forward to new and exciting reading adventures from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library until he/she turns five years old and you remain a resident of Wilson County.
Visit the Governor's Books from Birth Foundation or Books from Birth website for more information.
Resource Links
The Voluntary Pre-K initiative provides Tennessee's four-year-old children—with an emphasis on four year olds who are at-risk—an opportunity to develop school readiness skills (pre-academic and social skills).
As resource for parents on building Thinkers in TN. It takes a community to raise a leader. Learn how you can ensure all students are ready for their future.
Pre-K Contact
Brooke Carr
Pre-K Lead
615-444-3282, ext. 7434