PreK Application Period 2019-2020 begins February 1, 2019

Children must be four years of age on or before August 31 and live in Forsyth County to be considered for Pre-K program.

• Parents apply for all WSFCS, Head Start, and Smart Start/NCPK locations using a single application.
• There is no charge to families for the educational program.
• Application distribution points: All Title I elementary schools and community partners, Head Start and Smart Start
• PreK location preference form included in the application, pg. 10.
• Parents who apply between February 1 and March 31 will be contacted by a Smart Start staff member to schedule a developmental screening appointment.

Title I elementary school offices: Ashley, Bolton, Brunson, Cook, Diggs-Latham, Easton, Forest Park, Gibson, Griffith, Hall-Woodward, Ibraham, Kernersville, Kimberley Park, Kimmel Farm, Konnoak, Middle Fork, Mineral Springs, Moore, North Hills, Old Town, Petree, Rural Hall, Smith Farm, South Fork, Speas, Union Cross, Walkertown and Ward 

Community Partners: Head Start-Sarah Y. Austin, 2050 Big House Gaines Blvd., Winston-Salem, 27101, Head Start-WSSU, 601 S. Martin Luther King Dr., Winston-Salem, 27101, Smart Start, 7820 North Point Blvd, Winston-Salem 27106 and 

Caleb's Creek Elementary School

You may also print the 12 page application here:

2019-2020 Pre-K Application English

2019-2020 Pre-K Application Spanish

Complete the application

Include these documents:

• Child’s Birth Certificate, (‘Mother’s Verification of Facts’ form is NOT ACCEPTABLE)
• Proof of Forsyth County residence (most current utility bill or lease in parent’s name),
• Income documentation for parents living in the household who are working: last 4 check stubs, or other income documentation (Tax Return, W-2’s are acceptable). Also, proof of SSI benefits, and/or proof of child support, if applicable. Parents do not have to be employed for the child to be eligible.

Complete the Site Preference Form

The Site Preference Form is part of the application, page 10. Your selections do not guarantee placement at any site, but allow you to indicate location(s) you are able to provide transportation for your child and you are able to access before and after school care if needed.

Turn in application

Return completed applications in person or by mail to:

Smart Start of Forsyth County, 7820 North Point Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC, 27106 336-725-6011

Head Start at Sarah Y. Austin, 2050 Big House Gaines Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101 336-727-0617

Head Start at WSSU, 601 S. Martin Luther King Dr., Winston-Salem, NC, 27101 336-750-2472 or 336-750-8813

Eligibility Criteria

NCPK: All sources of family income cannot exceed 75% of the NC median income

Head Start: All sources of family income cannot exceed 100% of the federal poverty level

Title I: Children are rank ordered by developmental assessment screening score and the child with the greatest demonstrated educational need is offered placement first until all places are filled.

Other: If a family exceeds the income limits other risk factors may be considered for eligibility including, but not limited to developmental need as indicated by developmental screening, homelessness as defined by the McKinney-Vento Act, separation from parent due to incarceration, and foster care placement.

Developmental screening appointments

Parents who complete and submit applications between February 1 and March 31 and indicate a preference for a school site must have their child screened to be considered for placement in a Title I class in an elementary school. After your application has been reviewed, a Smart Start staff member will be in touch to schedule a screening appointment.

Preparing your child for a developmental screening event

Your child will be screened using a developmental assessment designed to measure gross and fine motor skills, critical thinking skills, language development and learning disposition behaviors.  We call this experience "playing games with a teacher." The assessment usually takes about 30 minutes. During this time parents will complete a survey to rate the child's self-help and social-emotional development.

About half the district’s classroom spaces are reserved for children who demonstrate they will gain the most educationally from a high quality pre-K experience. Applicants are rank-ordered, offered placement, and when all classrooms in the county have been filled, a rank order wait list is maintained to fill vacancies as they occur.

Families who apply April 1 or after

Children who apply beginning April 1 will be considered for preK placements in public schools, Head Start, and NC PreK classes in designated private childcare sites based on the criteria stated above. Children enrolled in the preK program who have not been screened will have a developmental screening conducted by their classroom teacher after enrollment.