Addison County PreK
Who?
In order to be eligible, your child must attend a prequalified PreK program at least 10 hours per week for 35 weeks each school year. In Addison County, children must also have turned 3 or 4 by September 1st and not be enrolled in kindergarten. Children are NOT required to participate in the program. We serve all the eligible PreK children who reside in our communities:
Addison Central SD: Bridport, Cornwall, Middlebury, Ripton, Salisbury, Shoreham, Weybridge
Addison Northwest SD: Addison, Ferrisburgh, Panton, Waltham, Vergennes
Mount Abraham Unified SD: Bristol, Monkton, New Haven, Starksboro
Some communities within Addison County are served by adjacent supervisory unions. As of July 1, 2023, the town of Lincoln is served by the Lincoln School District. The communities of Goshen, Leicester and Whiting are served by Rutland Northeast SU. The town of Orwell is served by the Slate Valley Unified School District. The town of Hancock is served by White River Valley SU. For more information on their PreK programming, please visit their websites or contact your local elementary school.
Where?
Prequalified PreK programs include community centers, home providers, and public school programs. They are prequalified as high quality preschool programs who have a certified early education teacher, are at least 3 STARS, and offer a PreK curriculum that meets Vermont’s Early Learning Standards. PreK programs offer a variety of scheduling options for families, including part-day, part-year programming and full-day, full-year programming.
Your family may select the Vermont prequalified PreK program that best meets your needs (including programs located outside of your district of residence). Addison County school based and current community partner programs are listed under the main menu tabs. If your prequalified PreK program does not currently have a partnership with your school district, you may ask that they enter into a partnership. To check if a Vermont provider is prequalified, go to http://www.brightfutures.dcf.state.vt.us/ and use the advanced search to look for “Prequalified Providers”.
For more information, please see Choosing a Preschool.
Will I Have to Pay?
Your family will NOT pay any tuition costs for the 10 hours/week for 35 weeks of publicly funded PreK programming. If your child is enrolled in a public school program, the school will handle your enrollment. If your child is enrolled in a private program, your school district will pay the private program tuition for your child for those 10 hours/week for 35 weeks/year.
Families are responsible for child care tuition fees beyond the hours of publicly funded PreK. If you have questions regarding your tuition bill, you should contact the director of your child's program for more information. Your family may qualify for programs that provide additional assistance with paying for child care services beyond PreK hours. To learn more and for eligibility information regarding child care financial assistance programs, please contact Child Care Resource and Referral at (802) 388-4304.
How do I Sign Up?
To enroll, your family must identify the program that you would like your child to attend and contact them first. Do you know which program you want to select? If not, review how to choose a preschool here and then look for a school or community-based prequalified PreK program that matches your child and family's needs.
Your PreK program will help you complete the application to enroll your child in their program and with the school system. Many programs begin enrollment in winter and early spring and fill quickly so PLAN AHEAD for your PreK needs!
Complete the PreK application and return to your program or district (depending on directions from your program). Don't forget to include your proof of residency documentation!
