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Board reviews pre‑K procedure for new three‑year‑old expansion and income‑verification process
Summary
Staff presented Procedure 644 revisions to expand the district’s pre‑K program to include eligible three‑year‑olds, defined eligibility tiers tied to state guidance (including poverty thresholds and special categories), and explained income‑verification methods and the enrollment cap rationale (space, staffing, grant per‑pupil calculations).
District staff presented Procedure 644 for information, describing how Kent County Public Schools is expanding pre‑K to include an eligible three‑year‑old program and aligning eligibility to state guidance. Todd O’Brienic and Education Services staff said the updated procedure defines tiers of eligibility (tier 1: families at or below 300% of the federal poverty level or other state categories, including homelessness, special education and multilingual learners) and explains central office and school‑level roles in enrollment and verification.
On the pilot caps and operations: Staff explained the Garnett pilot has a 20‑student cap based on available leased space, the required adult‑to‑child staffing ratios and revenue calculations tied to an expansion grant (about $14,500 per pupil in the prior grant). The district said 21 eligible applicants required a wait list in the pilot year.
On documentation: The food service manager (Miss Noel) said school staff will accept standard proof of income and require photo ID when verifying eligibility at the school level.
What’s next: The procedure was presented for information; staff will implement the verification steps as they expand programs in Galena and Rock Hall and will return to the board as needed for operational updates.
