Enrollment is a two-phased process.  If you are interested in enrollment, please complete the enclosed application, and provide the required documentation.  Below is a list of 3 items you will need to provide:

• Income verification (2 pay stubs for each employed parent/guardian or a copy of a tax return).

• Proof of residency (Name on a tax roll, lease, sales agreement, or utility bill).

• Child’s Birth Certificate

     All accepted applicants will be notified by May 9th.  If accepted, further enrollment information will be provided, and you will be asked to attend a Pre-K Counts Registration event in June.  Before completing the application, please read the following policies and procedures. You must agree to abide by these guidelines in order to participate in the program.

Enrollment Research Based Rationale: Children’s potential for growth and development is maximized through participation in a high-quality environment. The development of relationships with teachers and peers, along with consistent learning experiences that build on each other day to day come from regular attendance in preschool settings.

Intent: The intent of HASD PreK Program is to provide children with a quality preschool program immediately prior to their eligibility for kindergarten.

 Enrollment Policy: Children must be three on or before the date used by
Halifax Area School District’s kindergarten age-eligibility deadline date.  Five-year-olds who are age eligible for kindergarten are not eligible to remain in the preschool setting funded by PA Pre-K Counts funding.

Attendance Intent: We realize that young children, particularly in group settings, are susceptible to illness and may miss days of school. In addition to childhood illness, there may be other legitimately excused absences that could be identified. The development of good attendance practices by families must be established in order to maintain full enrollment in the program.

Attendance Policy: Children enrolled in the Pre-K Counts program are to adhere to the “Attendance and Absence” available in the “Handbook for Parents”. In addition, unexcused absences that total more than 10 days over the course of the school year, could be grounds for dismissing a child from the Pre-K Counts program. Excuses must be provided in writing and signed by a parent. Acceptable excused absences include illness, religious holidays, health care appointments that cannot be made during other hours, and family emergencies. Unexcused absences include but are not limited to: non-educational vacations and visits; or routine appointments that could be scheduled during non-school hours. 

Reporting Individual Child Outcomes Intent: Parents who enroll children in Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts are receiving state funding for a Pre-Kindergarten educational program. The state legislature relies on individual child outcomes data to be collected for all children in Pre-K Counts programs. The purpose of a statewide process for measuring child progress is to allow a higher quality of data that will allow for comparisons across programs in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania has made a large investment and commitment to early childhood by funding high quality pre-kindergarten education through PA Pre-K Counts. In return, we must be able to document the results of this investment and show benefits for children and families. Collecting and reporting on children’s progress in achieving early learning outcomes is one way to demonstrate these results.

Individual Child Outcomes Policy: Children enrolled in the Pre-K Counts program will be measured according to their progress multiple times per school year. Information obtained from child observations, portfolio work, and assessments, will be used for curriculum planning for setting individual goals for children. Conferences with parents will be held multiple times per school year and upon parents' request. Information gained through all outcomes will be reported to the state. 

Length of Day Policy: At least five hours of instructional time must be provided for full-day programs. Children must attend the program on scheduled school days as per the HASD approved school calendar from 8:30am to 2:00pm.

Program Operational Days Policy: 180 days of instructional services must be provided. The Pre-K Counts program will follow a schedule similar to the HASD calendar year.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call or email Carla Sauer at 717.896.3416 ext. 127 sauerc@hasd.us.