Pre-k Registration Lottery Next Month

Parents interested in the Atlanta Public Schools Pre-kindergarten program can register children next month for a chance to participate in the district’s lottery for one of 840 slots in the 2011-12 Pre-kindergarten program.

Registration is from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 16 and April 23 at one of three sites:

• Saturday, April 16, 2011 – 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, Maynard Jackson High School, 801 Glenwood Ave., SE, Atlanta 30331
• Thursday, April 21, 2011 – 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Instructional Services Center (ISC) @ Dean Rusk, 433 Peeples St., SW, Atlanta 30310
• Saturday, April 23, 2011 – 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, Samuel M. Inman Middle School, 774 Virginia Ave., NE, Atlanta 30306 

In addition, a weeknight session is scheduled for April 21 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The lottery drawing itself is scheduled for Fri., April 29 from noon to 3 p.m., at the ISC on Peeples Street.

The district’s budget, number of classes, class size, staffing and school year calendar for the Pre-K program are determined by the state, which has a limited number of slots and has not yet finalized criteria for participating.

The APS Pre-K program serves approximately 840 four-year-olds at 32 sites across the city with either 20, 40 or 60 slots.

According to the district website, “the program helps young children become independent, self-confident and enthusiastic learners.”
In addition, the site states that “the district wishes it could serve all four-year-olds, only 41 classrooms serving 20 students each are available. The program is 100 percent state funded. There are always more children seeking spaces in Pre-K than there are seats available, and for that reason the school system will use a lottery process as the fairest method of filling classes.”

Once certified by an independent public accounting firm, the results will be posted at each Pre-k site no later than May 9.

Anyone who registered their children will be informed of the childrens' status.

For more information about the program, call 404-802-3638 or visit the APS website and go to the "Full-Day State-Funded Pre-Kindergarten Program" page.