Overview

Great news! The 2020-2021 Pre-Kindergarten Lottery will be on-line. The application process will take place during the months of February-March 2020 to ensure all interested participants have ample time to apply on-line. Please check the District’s website frequently for updates. In the meantime, in order to prepare for this process, please make sure you have the following documents ready by clicking the Online Application-Registration Process tab to the left.

DURING OPEN ENROLLMENT, PARENTS MAY RECEIVE ASSISTANCE WITH THE REGISTRATION PROCESS AT THE ONLINE REGISTRATION (OLR) OFFICE, THE LOCAL SCHOOL, OR THE DEKALB COUNTY PARENT CENTERS.

The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) is honored to offer 114 lottery funded Georgia Pre-Kindergarten Program classes in 75 sites throughout the district. The Pre-Kindergarten program is funded by the Georgia State Lottery, governed by Bright from the Start. The DCSD Pre-K program is an age appropriate instructional program that prepares students for a successful transition to kindergarten and beyond. In order for a child to be school ready, it means they are socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively prepared for success in kindergarten.

The DeKalb County School District’s Pre-Kindergarten Program helps children become independent, self-confident, enthusiastic learners. Participation in the program encourages children to develop good habits and daily routines. It encourages teachers to adopt child centered instructional practices based on the interests and the skill levels of each child.

Online Application Registration Process

Steps in the Pre-K Lottery Process

  1. Apply on-line for a Pre-K seat.
  2. Upload required documents.
  3. Check your email and or Parent electronic dash for notification.
  4. Accept or Decline your seat.
  5. If accepted, take required documents to your assigned school during the Enrollment Window – May 5-19, 2020.
  6. If you were placed on a Waitlist, monitor your email closely for seat assignment possibility and further directions.
  7. Children will not be formally enrolled in the Pre-kindergarten program until parents/and or guardians have completed the registration process. Children who do not attend the first day of school before 10 AM will forfeit their space in the Pre-K class.

Documents Needed for Pre-K

Documents are required to be uploaded during the on-line application process and presented during the Enrollment Window – May 5-19, 2020 at your assigned school:

  • Proof of birth (Your child must be four years old on or before September 1, 2020)
    Original certified birth certificate, Hospital Record of Live Birth, Green Card, Pink Card or Federal I-94 Card; or child’s passport (Copies of these documents are not accepted).
  • Proof of legal guardianship (If applicable)
    Only required if your name is not on the child’s birth certificate.
  • Parent/Guardian proof of identification
    Valid state or government issued photo ID, such as a Georgia Driver’s license, or a valid U.S. passport ID.
  • Proof of Parent/Guardian Georgia Residency*
    Mortgage or lease/rental agreement in your name, OR an electric, gas, or water bill in your name, cable and phone bills are not acceptable.

    *If you are living with someone and you do not have a lease, mortgage or utility bill in your name, you must submit the following: A signed and notarized Affidavit of Residency AND a lease/mortgage statement or utility bill in the name of the person that you are living with AND a form of mail in the name of the child’s guardian showing a matching address to the affidavit.

If you receive electronic notification that your child’s name was selected, then you must accept the seat online and present the original documents that were uploaded (above) AND the following documents (below) during the enrollment window – May 5-19, 2020 at your assigned school.
  • Child’s original Social Security Card OR “Waiver”
    If a waiver is needed, it will be provided to you during the enrollment session.
  • Child’s Peachcare card, Medicaid card, health insurance card, EBT card (food stamps) and/or TANF (If
    applicable)
  • Immunization Certificate (3231)
  • Vision, Hearing, Nutrition, and Dental Screening Certificate (3300)
    Pre-K seat assignments are contingent upon validation of required documents.

Pre-Lottery

To be eligible for the 2020 ‐ 2021 school year, your child’s date of birth should be on or between the following dates: September 2, 2020 ‐ September 1, 2021.

No. If your home address is not zoned for DeKalb County School District, you are not eligible to participate. If you are unsure if your address is zoned for DeKalb Schools, please visit the school locator to verify.

No. You may register for either a theme school, if applicable, or your home school. If you choose to register for a theme school and are not selected, you will automatically be placed on the wait list. After the first week of school, if there is room at your home school, you are welcome to register for a seat at your home school.

To be eligible for the 2020 ‐ 2021 school year as a Pre‐Kindergarten student your child must have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) that identifies the need to spend their Kindergarten year in an inclusion (co‐taught) Pre‐K classroom.

Your child is expected to be able to take care of self-help tasks such as dressing, undressing, and toilet needs. Children should be potty trained prior to entering Pre-K. Parents will be called should an accident occur and will be required to come to school to change their child. Students are not to wear pull-ups to school unless outlined as a part of Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 plan and the child is in a collaborative class, so he/she can be assisted by a special needs’ teacher/aide.

No. As a DCSD employee you must go through the same lottery process as everyone else. However, there are specific stipulations before employees can enter the Pre‐K lottery. Please contact your school principal or the Early Childhood Office for the DeKalb Pre‐K Lottery Employee Participation Memo.

If an applicant with a current Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is selected to a end a Bright from the Start (BFTS) general education Pre‐K classroom, the applicant may possibly be moved to a BFTS inclusion classroom based on the student’s individual needs. NOTE: Theme schools do not house BFTS inclusion classrooms.

No. If your child has an existing IEP and is currently being service in the three‐year‐old classroom they will be rolled into a Pre‐K class based upon their IEP needs.

Proof of birth, proof of legal guardianship (if parent/guardian name is not on the birth certificate), parent/guardian proof of identification, and proof of residency.

Post Lottery

Your next step is accepting the seat and take your acceptance letter you received along with the remaining registration documents to your school on the indicated date to complete your registration. This next step is vital to complete within the timeframe allowed or you risk losing your seat to the next person on the wait list.

Any student that was not selected for a lottery seat is automatically placed on the wait list. The system numerically orders students on the wait list and a letter is generated to notify the parent of their place on the wait list. As seats are declined or forfeited, the system generates an acceptance letter to the next person on the wait list. At that me, you will be required to complete the next steps to secure your lottery seat.

DCSD policy states that a child must have their Health Immunization form 3231 on file within 30 days of the child starting school or the expiration date. If it is not provided, the child will not be able to return to class without the form or proof of an appointment. The child will not be able to return after the appointment without an updated form. Should the child be absent for 10 consecutive days due to this form not being provided the child’s seat in Pre‐K will be forfeited.

DCSD policy states that this form must be on file within 90 days of the child starting school or the expiration date. If it is not provided, the child will not be able to return to class which may result in the child losing their spot in the program.

Upon registering your child for their Pre‐K seat, be sure to bring the medical information with you. The school will have someone on site to talk to you about medical forms and the procedures to administer prescribed medication.

All lottery selected students are expected to be present and accounted for on the first day of school. If your child is not in attendance by 10:00 AM on the first day of school, the seat will be forfeited and given to the next person on the wait list.

Yes, students are expected to be in attendance for the full instructional day during the entire school year. Children who do not attend class or are late ten consecutive days without a medical excuse, must be removed from the class as per state guidelines. Additionally, students who exhibit a pattern of chronically late or early release may be in jeopardy of forfeiting their seat and will be referred to the counselor and/or social worker.

Yes, parents are expected to participate in all scheduled parent meetings and parent conferences at least twice a year and more often if necessary. (These activities will last approximately one hour) .

Feel free to contact the Early Childhood Department at 678.676.0147.

Contact

  • Ms. Erica Nelson
    Pre-K Technician
  • 678.676.0147
  • Dr. Audria Berry
    Early Childhood Education Coordinator
  • 678.676.0379
  • Ms. Kim Rhodes
    Early Childhood Education Coordinator
  • 678.676.0392