District to open pre-K applications Feb. 18; limited seats and on-site help available

St. Tammany Parish school officials told the committee Feb. 6 that the district will open its 4‑year-old pre-K application at 5 a.m. on Feb. 18 at the Train Technology Center and that the process is first-come, first-served.

Miss Garner, who presented the early-childhood update, said families may complete the application from home once it opens or use computer labs and staff help at the Train Technology Center; district staff and translators will be available to assist families without computer access. Applications are time-stamped at submission, Garner said, and the district has historically filled seats quickly.

Officials described the program as limited in capacity and urged parents to be ready at 5 a.m. on Feb. 18. The district said it typically has “just over 1,400 seats” but provided other numbers on the record that were not reconciled: staff later said there are about 1,100 free seats and "about 80-something" tuition-based seats. District officials said qualifying students will be placed on the free-seat list ahead of tuition applicants and the district oversees early-childhood partners including Head Start and licensed childcare centers.

Garner said the application remains open after Feb. 18 for the school year and that the district will maintain lists and assist families who cannot secure a seat at their preferred school by identifying nearby childcare options overseen by the district.

Ending: The district asked families who plan to apply to prepare required documents before Feb. 18 and said staff will post application details and requirement checklists on the early-childhood pages of the district website.