Pre-K vs preschool

bumpuser8448316

DS doesn't qualify for the state's pre-k program. His school, which I love, has a 5s class that he also doesn't qualify for (have to be 5 by December and his bday is January). Do I need to find some sort of private school pre-k program or is regular preschool before kindy fine? I have no idea about is pre-k business

Spin313

Have you asked your director if they'll make an exception since he's already attending the school...?

penguingrrl

I always thought preK was simply a newer term for kids who are in their last year of preschool. 

bumpuser8448316

CnAmom said:

Aren't they like the same thing?

This is what I don't understand. When I asked about the 5s vs 4s they sound identical to the 4s except that it's 10 minutes longer and $75 more. Pre-K no clue as I haven't gone to the school to ask.

meglew

DD1 was in a 4's class prior to kindergarten.  She was eligible for for the pre-k at her school since she was 5 before March 1st, but we opted for the 4's program instead.  I wanted to keep her with the classmates she was familiar with and the pre-k program was a full school day (8-3), every day.  IMO, that was too much for DD and we liked the idea of M,W,F from 8-11.  Full day kinder was a hard enough transition, so I feel we made the right decision for her.

eaglesfan700

The preschool we use has 2s, 3s, 4s and a transitional class. The transitional class is for kids who did the 4s, but either miss the cutoff for K or whose parents decide to hold them back. I called the 4s class pre-k, because that's what it was for my kids

Cherryblossoms07

One of the preschools we looked at for DD has 2,3, & 4 classes and a pre-k class. The pre-k class is like the transitional class that Eagles mentioned - the kids who missed the cutoff date or their parents held them back.

littlemermaid

Here 4 y.o. preschool,  PreK or Early 5's is more academic based and it makes sure that the kids are learning all the required material to get into K, it's less play based and more academic.  I think you would be fine finding either a 4 year old preschool or a preK program to put him in as long as the main concentration is getting them ready for K.

bumpuser8448316

LalaMama81 said:

Our school follows the same cut off as the school districts, so no need for a transitional class. If you miss the cut off for k, you'd be in the 4s. Our particular school has no special class for kids who are held by their parents. But since there are at least 3 different 4s teachers you could easily get a different experience.

Our state cutoff for K is September 1st. But they offer pre-k for kids who turn 5 between September 1st and December 1st.

CareBear0607

The schools are all different here, so it depends on where you send your child.  My daughter's preschool had a 4s and pre-k class.  They were the same curriculum, but the pre-k class was longer days and 5 days a week. 

DS's preschool has a 4s class but they call it pre-k--it is basically for children who will be entering kindy the following school year.

My neighbor's preschool had a pre-k that was just for children that were red shirted or had a September-December birthday.  Cut-off here is Septmeber 1st.