SOCSD announces pre-K registration period

After announcing the start of a pre-K program for the 2018-2019 school year, the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District has announced the registration period for the program.

Both online and on-site registration for the classrooms at Sudduth Elementary and West Elementary will open March 5 and run through April 6. Computer labs at both schools will be open for parents to register their children from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 5. An access link for online reg-

istration forms will be added to the district website prior to March 5.

To be eligible for the program, students must be fouryears-old on or before Sept. 1.

Students who demonstrate an academic need after taking the STAR Early Literacy Screener will be considered. Initially, 60 slots will be available, including 40 at Sudduth and 20 at West. Screenings for students will be held at either Sudduth or West.

The district will contact parents with the date and time for their child’s screening. The program is open to students with an individualized education program (IEP) and are eligible for special education.

Assistant Superintendent Anna Guntharp encouraged interested families to apply sooner, rather than later.

“It is first-come first-serve, so I would recommend them to get pre-registered as early as possible, which would be that March 5 date,” Guntharp said.

Guntharp said the district

had some additional pre-K classrooms thro a different program at the Emerson Family School.

Parents registering their children are required to show their child’s birth certificate, Mississippi Immunization 121 Form and two proofs of residency.

Acceptable proofs of residency include: fled homestead exemption application form, mortgage documents or property deeds, apartment or home leases, drivers licenses, voter precinct IDs or vehicle registrations.

Parents may be asked to show proofs of residency 30 days prior to the start of school.

Additional information can be found on the district’s website.

“We know that quality early childhood education has a great impact on kindergarten readiness,” Guntharp said. “Those children that are coming out of a quality pre-k program are ready for kindergarten. We see a lower incidence of retention in kindergarten and first grade with those students that attended a pre-K.”