Jackson Madison County Schools Young Scholars Preschool Program

Pre-K Staggered Schedule

Purpose

The purpose of the Young Scholars Preschool Program is to provide a quality early childhood education program for “at-risk” four    year old children in our district. It is developed in accordance with the Tennessee Early Childhood Education Plan as adopted by the  State Board of Education.

Eligibility

As defined in the original grants, children who are 4 years of age by September 30 and who are considered educationally at-risk due to family income eligibility for the Free or Reduced Price Lunch Program are first priority for enrollment. If space is available, other educational at-risk factors may be considered in order to meet requirements for classroom capacity.

Funding

Currently, there are eighteen regular education Pre-K classrooms in the Jackson-Madison County School System. Thirteen of these classes are funded through grants and five classes are funded locally.

Pilot Grant: Alexander, Isaac Lane, Lincoln, Parkview, Whitehall

Local: Alexander, Lane, Lincoln, Parkview, Whitehall

Lottery Grant: Arlington, Denmark, Isaac Lane

Lottery Expansion Grant: Arlington, Denmark, Malesus, Isaac Lane, South

Registration Process

As stated in the grants, the purpose is to provide an early childhood education program to as many at-risk students in our district as possible. Parents may apply at any Pre-K program in the system that is most convenient. Parents will complete a registration form and a Free and Reduced Price Meals Application form. Applications will be taken for two weeks during the month of April. After the two week period, applications will be reviewed to identify “at-risk” students. Applications will be grouped by “at-risk” and “non at-risk” students. Priority will be given to at-risk students and then qualifying zoned students and/or siblings of students already enrolled in the school. After filling slots with these students, principals will then look for other educational at-risk factors when filling the remaining slots. Locally funded classrooms may fill remaining slots with non at-risk students. However, they cannot have more than twenty non at-risk students. Should there be more students apply than available slots, then a lottery will be held for remaining slots.

Lottery

If a lottery is needed for some schools, it will be held the first week of May at the Central Office. Principals will come to the lottery with their list of zoned and sibling students already assigned, unless this number is greater than the number of openings. Drawings will then be held for the opening slots, giving priority to at-risk students. Once all slots are filled, the remaining students will be placed on a waiting list. Following the lottery, parents will be notified. Once they accept an assignment, they will be taken off any other lists that they may have been drawn for. Any school that is unable to fill their openings may contact parents on other waiting lists. Should there be vacancies at any of the grant funded programs as of October 15, then the district will apply for permission to fill these spaces with non at-risk students.

Locally Funded Programs

Currently, there are five classrooms that are funded locally. These classrooms were added under the 2000 Consent Agreement to schools with Pilot funded programs. The purpose is still to serve at-risk students first. If space is available, non at-risk students may be placed in these programs without requesting permission from the state department. Priority may be given to zoned students, siblings of students already enrolled at the school and/or children of Jackson-Madison County employees for these available spaces.

North Parkway Classes Housed at Isaac Lane

Due to overcrowding at North Parkway, both Pre-K classes will be moved to Isaac Lane Technology School beginning the 2007-2008 school-year. Priority will be given to qualifying North Parkway zoned students.