Roster Options Will Be Offered

Yes, the state’s pre-kindergarten program begins next week. And yes, some Palm Beach County public schools are among those offering the program. But no, not all parents can enroll their 4-year-olds in a public school.

Priority will go to children in the schools’ boundaries first and those who come from low-income families that the district’s pre- kindergartens traditionally have helped. Everyone else will go on a waiting list.

But not enough parents and school district employees have gotten the message, so Monday district officials announced a plan to review the rules with staffers and set up parent help sites and a hot line to tell families their options.

The county’s Early Learning Coalition, which will manage the pre- kindergarten program, expects as many as 5,000 to 6,000 4-year-olds to enroll in the program by the end of August. Schools can begin as early as Aug. 10. The public schools are expected to host about 700 of those children. The rest will have to find spots with private child-care centers and schools.

Though the district has limited enrollment, the coalition welcomed its participation. Several school districts in the state aren’t offering the program because they don’t have enough space.

As of Monday morning, more than 4,200 children held certificates to enroll. Another 1,000 are expected to transfer in from subsidized child-care programs. By coalition counts, the public and private schools have about 1,000 seats to spare at the moment, said Executive Director Warren Eldridge.

Still, some areas such as Wellington appear to have more demand than seats.

Beginning Wednesday, parents who haven’t enrolled their children can head to one of three elementary schools for help: Belle Glade Elementary, Heritage Elementary or West Riviera Elementary. If enrolling a child, parents should bring proof that the child is 4 by Sept. 1 of this year and proof of Florida residency. The school district’s pre-kindergarten hot line is (561) 357-7500. Parents also may head to the Early Learning Coalition offices on 3111 S. Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach or to one of several planned round-ups.

A list of public and private pre-kindergarten providers is at www.elcpalmbeach.org. For more information call (561) 214-8000.

While the school district will offer the program three hours a day during the school year, private providers have the option of running longer hours and fewer days. Some won’t begin until October, Eldridge said. Per state law, none will offer transportation.

Parents aren’t the only ones eager for information. Robin Boucard, data processor at Galaxy Elementary in Boynton Beach who handles the pre-kindergarten enrollment at the school, said she’s been fielding parent calls for a week.

“Some have questions I really can’t answer. ‘Where do I go? What are the hours? What do I do after the three hours?’ What I’ve been telling parents is as soon as we get information, we’ll let them know.”

sonja_isger@pbpost.com