New:

PK Registration Dates for 2023

*How and where to make appointments for these events will be posted on this site and sent out via BCS social media in February.

Please save these dates:

Washington and Chocowinity PK Applicants; 3/6/23-3/9/23

SW Snowden: 3/13/23-3/14/23

Northeast Elementary: 3/20/23-3/21/23

For ALL preschool applications, parents/ guardians will need to produce:

• The child on that day to be screened by our Preschool Staff
• The child's certified Birth Certificate (not Mother's copy)
• The child's immunization record
• 2 Proofs of residency (utility bill, mortgage or rental receipt, or property tax bill)
• Proof of household income (W2 or check stub)
• If you do not have 2 proofs of residency because utility bills are not in your name, please contact Catherine Tahaney and ask about completing a Notarized Shared Housing Affidavit. 
  
  

  ELIGIBILITY :To be eligible for the North Carolina Pre-K program, children must be

• four years old by August 31st and be eligible for kindergarten the following year.

• Be a resident of Beaufort County.

• Meet the family size and income requirements set by the state of North Carolina.

• Children of active duty military families are also eligible.

How will I know that my child has been accepted?

Letters to families of children who will be on the waiting list will also be mailed by early July for those who attend the BCS Preschool Registration events in the spring. Late applicants who apply during other times of the year will be notified once the applications are completed and processed.  It is important to let your child’s assigned school and the Pre-K Director know if your address or phone number changes at any time. We do not want you to miss out on critical program information.  

If you have additional questions, please call Catherine Tahaney, Pre-School Director, at 252-940-6595 or ctahaney@beaufort.k12.nc.us

What happens at the Preschool Registration Event?

1. Parents produce the required documents and complete a Preschool Application. They will also complete a questionnaire about their child's skills. Parents will also be notified if any documents are missing and how to present these at a later time.

2. Each preschool applicant will be screened by a preschool teacher using the Dial 4 Screening instrument. (Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning – Fourth Edition).   This screening instrument is designed to determine whether a child is developing within the average range for his/her age or whether there is some indication of a possible delay in his/her development.  The DIAL-4 examines three areas of development: motor, concepts and language.

In the Motor area, the child’s large and small muscle control as well as eye-hand coordination will be screened. We want to see how he/she is learning to use his/her body for jumping, hopping, building blocks, cutting, copying and writing.
In the Concepts area,  the child’s beginning understanding of such things as colors, counting, body parts and early opposite concepts will be noted.
In the Language area, we will screen the child’s ability to speak and use language.  We will also check to see that he or she makes the appropriate speech sounds for his/her age.  Language includes the child’s understanding of words as well as his/her ability to use words for communicating with others.

3. Each preschool applicant will have the opportunity to receive a hearing and vision screening.

4. The accompanying parent will have the opportunity to participate in an exit conference with an educator to review their child's screening information. 

Beaufort County School's PK Office Staff

Catherine Tahaney, PK Director 252-940-6595

Jodi Russell, PK Itinerant EC Teacher 252--940-6591

Jennifer Williams, PK Itinerant Teacher 252-946-3539

Additional Resources

North Carolina Early Learning Network

NCDPI/Early Learning Network Remote Learning

NC Early Learning and Progressions: Birth to Five