North Carolina Pre-K Program
The North Carolina Pre-K Program focuses on providing exceptional education and preparing four-year-old children for school. Our program aligns with the North Carolina public-school calendar, offering engaging and enriching experiences for 6.5 hours per day, Monday through Friday, across 180 days each year.
Is my child eligible for North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten?
In North Carolina, children must turn four on or before August 31st of the program year to be eligible for NC Pre-K. Most children from families with a gross income at or below 75% of the State Median Income (SMI) qualify for the program. Additionally, children from military families are eligible regardless of income. Up to 20% of age-eligible children may qualify with family incomes above 75% SMI if they have documented risk factors in specific categories like developmental disability, Limited English Proficiency, educational need, or chronic health conditions.
The North Carolina Pre-K Classroom
The NC Pre-K program is dedicated to preparing children in all essential developmental areas that contribute to their overall well-being and success in reading and math as they begin their educational journey. These subjects include:
- Approaches to play and learning
- Emotional and social development
- Health and physical development
- Language development and communication
- Cognitive development
Teachers
Each NC Pre-K classroom is staffed with either a lead teacher and/or an assistant teacher. Our dedicated teachers undergo thorough state and federal background checks and are over 21 years of age. Lead teachers are required to have (or be working toward) North Carolina Birth through Kindergarten or Preschool Add-on Standard Professional II licenses, while assistant teachers must hold or be working toward a minimum of an associate degree in early childhood education or child Development (ECE/CD), or a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.
Curriculum
Our NC Pre-K curriculum has been thoroughly reviewed and approved by the North Carolina Division of Child Development. Our program embraces a holistic approach, incorporating large group, small group, outside time, center time, story times, phonological awareness, music and movement, and large group literacy activities. Guided by the North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning and Development, our dedicated teachers use this framework to create comprehensive, developmentally-appropriate, and high-quality prekindergarten learning experiences for children while fostering strong partnerships with families.
Healthy Meals
Rest assured that your child will be served a nutritious and USDA-approved breakfast, lunch, and snack each day. Our team is ready to accommodate any special dietary needs your child may have, and we encourage you to discuss these with the school’s Director for personalized support.
What if I need care for a full day?
At Childcare Network, we understand that families may require extended care beyond the standard 6.5 hour Pre-K program. That’s why we offer an extended day program to provide wrap-around care for children. Parents can rest assured knowing that their children will have care available from the moment our doors open until it’s time to close for the day, right at their school location.
Find the care that will help your child thrive.
As your child is learning and growing throughout the day, you can depend on us to provide a safe, encouraging environment. Giving parents peace of mind and children a place to thrive is what we do best!
Find a school