Pre-K Application Process

4 Year Old Programs:

Pre-Kindergarten programs are state-funded programs designed to service children who meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Child must be 4 on or before September 1st of the current school year
• Child must reside in Frederick County
• Children whose families meet income eligibility requirements and/or are placed within a classroom program via the Child Find Process / Individualized Education Program (IEP) team decision.  

3 Year Old Programs:

Pre-Kindergarten programs are state-funded programs designed to service children who meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Children with developmental needs who are placed within a classroom program via the Child Find Process / Individualized Education Program (IEP) team decision.
• Child must reside in Frederick County

Should space allow, a limited number of seats may also be available in the afternoon session for those meeting the following criteria. 

• Children whose families meet income eligibility requirements
• Child must be 3 on or before September 1st of the current school year

Pre-K Sliding Scale:

The Maryland State Department of Education has recommended a system in which families whose total gross income falls between 301% and 600% of the Federal Poverty level can pay partial tuition so their child can attend Pre-K. FCPS has waived the tuition collection for the 2024-2025 school year. For more information about the sliding scale and Blueprint for Maryland's Future, please see https://blueprint.marylandpublicschools.org/ece/

Since Pre-K is not a mandatory grade level for all students in Maryland, the program is not available in every Frederick County elementary school. Elementary schools without a Pre-K  program are paired with a nearby school that offers a program. Please see the Paired School List for current Pre-K sites within FCPS.

If you are unsure of your child's home school, you may locate it using the boundary map.

FCPS is proud to offer the following programs for 4 Year Old Pre-K Students

Please note: When found eligible for Pre-K, students will be placed within one of the following Pre-K programs based upon their residential school location.

Traditional Pre-K: This program is intended for students who are 4 by September 1st. This is a full-day general education program based on income eligibility requirements. Class sizes are approximately 20 students. Transportation is provided for those attending their residential school (school location by address).

Innovative Pre-K: This program is intended for students who are 4 by September 1st. This is a full-day general education program based on income eligibility requirements. Class sizes are approximately 20 students. This program is unique in the fact that it is offered at the feeder high school location and works in conjunction with the high school Child Development course. Students gather as a class at their enrolled elementary school and are then bussed to their partner high school site. Students are returned to their enrolled elementary school for dismissal.

Inclusion Pre-K (4 year olds): This program is intended for students who are 4 by September 1st. This is a full-day inclusive preschool education program where half the student population has an identified disability and half of the student population is selected to serve as a peer role model. Students are placed via an IEP Meeting (students with specialized needs) or via income eligibility requirements. Transportation is provided for those attending their residential school (school location by address) and those requiring specialized transportation per their IEP. 

For Additional information regarding transportation, please see FCPS Policy 441.

FCPS is proud to offer the following program for 3 Year Old Pre-K Students

Inclusion Pre-K (3 year olds): This program is intended for students who require specialized instruction and are placed within the program via the Child Find/ Individualized Education Program process. 

The morning session is intended  for students who have a newly identified disability. These students attend either Monday/Tuesday or Wednesday/Thursday for a 2.5 hour class session. Classrooms provide a high staff to student ratio to support student needs. Specialized transportation may be provided as outlined in the student's IEP. 

The afternoon session is intended to service  returning three year old students with an identified disability. This is a half-day inclusive preschool education program where half the student population has an identified disability and half of the student population is selected to serve as a peer role model. Students are placed via an IEP Meeting (students with specialized needs) or via income eligibility requirements. Students attend Monday-Thursday  for 2.5 hour class sessions. Classrooms provide a high staff to student ratio to support student needs. Transportation is provided by families when selected as a peer. There are no options for bus transportation for peers. Specialized transportation may be provided as outlined in the student's IEP for those with specialized needs.

Please note: Students who are selected via income eligibility requirements must be 3 by September 1st.

Additional 4 and 3 Year Old Pre-K Program Options

Additional state funded Pre-K seats for 3 and 4-year-olds are available throughout Frederick County. These are full-day seats which are free of charge to qualifying families. 

For families interested in seats near the Walkersville area, The Learning Bee has open full-day seats. For additional information regarding the application process, please see their website located at https://thelearningbee.com/.

For families interested in seats near the Thurmont area, Thurmont Child Care has open full-day seats. For additional information regarding the application process, please see their website located at https://thurmontchildcare.com/.

For families interested in seats near the New Market area, The Valley Play School has open full-day seats. For additional information regarding the application process, please see their website located at https://www.valleyplayschool.com/.

To support families via a universal application, the Office of Early Childhood Education is able to share completed Pre-K Applications to the above community partners upon the Receipt of the Mixed Delivery Release of Information. Please return forms to PreKEnrollment@fcps.org.

For families who may not meet income eligibility requirements for FCPS Pre-K programs, and for those interested in additional private preschool programs throughout Frederick County, Maryland Family Network offers a free service  to help locate options which may meet your preschool or childcare needs. Some families may qualify for Childcare Scholarships offered through Maryland State Department of Education.

The required enrollment documentation to include income verification document, proof of residency, and proof of birth date must be uploaded as part of the online enrollment process. Please do not submit until all documents have been included in your application as your application will not be processed until all documentation is provided. 

Income documentation, proof of residency, and proof of birth date is required to be considered for Pre-K eligibility. Applications without this documentation will not be considered.

• Total Household Gross Income must be verified to qualify for placement within a Pre-K program. Household Gross Income MUST be documented by providing one of the following for EACH Household Member receiving income:
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Current letter of Verification 
  • Most Recent W-2 form(s) for all Household Members 
  • Most Recent Tax Return(s) for all Household Members 
    • Please note: a Household Member includes anyone who is living with you and shares income and expenses, even if not related.
• Proof of date of birth (provide one of these: Birth certificate, physician's certificate, hospital certificate, baptismal or church certificate, parent's affidavit, or passport/visa)
• Proof of residency (provide one of these: current property tax bill, current rental bill, current utility bill for water, gas, or electric)
  • Often a parent/guardian and child do not own or rent the home in which they live. If this is your case, then the person who actually owns or rents the home must provide the same proof of residency as listed above (current property tax bill, current rental bill, current utility bill) and must complete and have notarized the FCPS Parent Residence Affidavit Multi-Family form.

***Should your child be accepted within the Pre-K Program, you will also have to provide the following documentation:

• Immunization and health records, provide BOTH of the following:
  • Department of Health and Mental Hygiene form 896 Immunization Certificate or other proof of immunizations (view the complete immunization schedule here), and 
  • Documentation of a recent physical exam, recorded on the Maryland Schools Record of Physical Examination. If your child's last physical exam was more than 9 months prior to the start of school, you may wait to submit the form until this year's exam is completed. NOTE: This is not the same documentation required to participate in Athletics programs. Please refer to the Athletics section for more information.
• Parent photo identification

FCPS Regulation 400-07 provides further information about enrolling a student. You may also contact Student Support Services.

FCPS also has a Multilingual Education Program to help non-English speaking families.

Register your student & upload your documents

To enroll your student for School Year 2025 starting August 21, 2024

• School Year 2024-25 PowerSchool online enrollment portal
• School Year 2024-25 Portal de inscripcion en linea de PowerSchool

If you are unable to apply for Pre-K using our online portal, you may download an official FCPS Enrollment Form template and return via  US Mail to the Early Childhood Office located  at 191 S. East Street Frederick, Md 21701. Please ensure your submission includes all income eligibility, proof of residency, and proof of birth date documentation. Documents may also be dropped off at the front desk of the above Central Office address or emailed to PreKEnrollment@fcps.org.

The required enrollment documentation to include income verification document, proof of residency, and proof of birth date may be easily uploaded as part of the online enrollment process. Please do not submit until all documents have been included in your application as your application will not be processed until all documentation is provided.

Important Note: Applying for FCPS public pre-kindergarten program, regardless of the time of year, DOES NOT automatically guarantee enrollment. Every attempt is made to provide space for as many children as possible, but because of funding restrictions, spaces are limited. In order for your application to be considered, all appropriate information must be completed and accompanied by ALL required documentation. Incomplete applications will not be processed and may affect your child’s placement.

Once a family is found eligible for Pre-K, the school will contact the family to offer the seat. Notification of acceptance for Tier 1 Applicants will begin in May.

Applications will be considered based upon Tiered Eligibility using the following timelines, should space allow:

Tier 1: Acceptance upon Eligibility Confirmation Students from families earning up to 300% Federal Poverty Level

Tier 2: Consideration between September 1st- October 1st, pending space Students from families earning between 300-600% Federal Poverty Level ***families will be accepted in ascending order from lowest to highest, as space allows

Tier 3: Consideration after October 1st, pending space Students from families earning above 600% Federal Poverty Level ***families will be accepted in ascending order from lowest to highest, as space allows

Please understand this timeline allows for FCPS to provide Pre-K seats to as many children meeting income eligibility as possible. We appreciate your patience in this process.

FCPS Regulation 400-91: Pre-Kindergarten Enrollment

Pre-K Sliding Scale:

The Maryland State Department of Education has recommended a system in which families whose total gross income falls between 301% and 600% of the Federal Poverty level can pay partial tuition so their child can attend Pre-K. FCPS has waived the tuition collection for the 2024-2025 school year. For more information about the sliding scale and Blueprint for Maryland's Future, please see https://blueprint.marylandpublicschools.org/ece/

If you wish to apply for a location which is not your home school location (school based on your address), please submit a Pre-K Out of District Request.

Completed Pre-K Out of District Forms should be emailed to PreKEnrollment@fcps.org, or mailed to: Office of Early Childhood, 191 S East Street, 3rd Floor, Frederick, MD 21701.

In mid-August, pre-kindergarten enrollment numbers and space availability will be reviewed to determine if Out of District Requests can be considered. Those meeting income eligibility requirements will continue to have priority for this possibility. 

The home school or paired school will notify the family if their Out of District request was approved. If approved, the family is responsible for transportation of their child to the Out of District school.