Pre-Kindergarten

Families may apply for prekindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year if your child is four years old by September 1, 2025 and meets any of the following criteria: 

• meets the income eligibility guidelines
• registered with the McKinney Vento Program (homeless)
• demonstrates developmental delays or is at risk for developmental delays as identified by an IEP placement

*Over-income families will be placed on a waitlist and considered for a seat based on space availability beginning mid-September 2025; the exact date is to be determined.*

For the 2025-2026 school year, eligible families will have the option to enroll their child in prekindergarten through Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) or with a participating private provider.

• PGCPS offers prekindergarten for eligible four-year-olds (children who will be four by September 1, 2025).

• Private providers offer prekindergarten for eligible three- and four-year-olds.

Families can choose the setting that best fits their needs.

• Find out your boundary school
• Private Providers offering free Prekindergarten seats for three and four year olds
• Community Based Programs

Full-day prekindergarten PGCPS sites accepting household incomes up to 300% of the federal poverty income guidelines for families living within the school boundary. 

*Over-income families will be placed on a waitlist and considered for a seat based on space availability beginning in September 2025; the exact date is to be determined.*

*Elementary schools and Early Childhood Centers (ECC) may not accept out-of-boundary students into their prekindergarten programs, which are intended for in-boundary students only.

 

In addition to prekindergarten programs offered by PGCPS, we are partnering with private providers to offer free prekindergarten seats for eligible three- and four-year-olds during the 2025-2026 school year. The list of available programs will be updated once we receive information from the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).

Parents may also choose a child care program through LOCATE: Child Care, A free and confidential referral service that helps families find the best child care program to meet their needs: LOCATE: Child Care

All parents registering in Prince George’s County Public Schools must have the following:

• Government Issued Photo Identification for the parent/legal guardian.
• Original Proof of Birth for the Student with seal and parents name listed.
• Health-Related Documents
• Proof of Residency
• Affidavit of Disclosure (New Students to the County)
• Proof of Income

Additional documentation may be required depending on individual circumstances including students who do not reside with their parents , students who previously attended school, and students not enrolling in their neighborhood school.

Documentation Details

The ID must match the name on the birth certificate/guardianship papers. Presentation of photo ID does not qualify as proof of residence.

B. Original Proof of Birth for the Student with seal and parents name listed.

• Birth Certificate/Live Certificate of Birth
• Hospital Certificate
• Physician’s Certificate
• Baptismal or Church Certificate
• Passport / Visa (ONLY if the student first reported to and was approved by the International Student Counseling Office (ISCO) at 301-445-8460.)

C. Letter of Approval for Informal Kinship Care/Waiver of Tuition (if applicable)

If a student is not residing with their parent/legal guardian, that individual must either pay tuition to attend school, obtain legal court-appointed guardianship, or apply for a tuition waiver/kinship care arrangement.  (Issued by the Office of Pupil Accounting at 301-952-6302.) A child may not be registered on a notarized statement giving guardianship. 

D. Health-Related Documents

Immunization record -The immunizations required before children can be admitted to school are diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough – for children through age 6), tetanus, polio, rubeola (measles), rubella (3-day measles), mumps, and children in preschool through grade 10 must have varicella (chickenpox) and hepatitis B vaccines.

Regulations are as follows:

1. Require two doses of rubeola (measles) vaccine for kindergarten – twelfth-grade students, with both doses given on or after the first birthday and separated by at least 30 days. One dose, given after the first birthday, is required for prekindergarten students;
2. Require one dose of mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccines given on or after the first birthday. Physician documented history of chickenpox disease is acceptable in lieu of vaccination;
3. Require Haemophilus influenza (HIB) and Prevnar (PCV7) vaccines for children in preschool programs.

Physical Examination - A physical examination is recommended for each child entering the Maryland Public School System for the first time. The examination must be performed within the period of nine months before school entry to six months after entry. The form is available at each school or can be accessed from the Office of School Health page.

Lead Screening Certificate -All newly enrolled students in prekindergarten through first grade must submit a form DHMH 4620 documenting that:

1. Blood lead testing was done; OR
2. The child has never lived in a targeted ZIP Code; OR
3. The parent has a religious objection to the testing

The documented tests should be at 12 months and 24 months of age. Two test results are required if the first test was done prior to 24 months of age. If the first test is done after 24 months of age, one test result is required. If there is a religious objection to the blood test, a Lead Risk Assessment must be administered by a health care provider. The form is available at each school or can be accessed from the School Health page.

E. Proof of Residency

Prince George’s County Public Schools reserves the right to investigate residency at any time without notification or consent whenever the authenticity of proofs are in question.  Falsification or misrepresentation of residency documents is considered fraud and may result in sanctions, including the charging of back tuition, the immediate withdrawal of the student from the school system with no credits awarded, and the pursuit of criminal and civil charges.

Parents must notify their child’s school when their home address changes and provide proof of their new residence. If families move out of Prince George’s County, children are no longer eligible to attend Prince George’s County Public Schools and will be withdrawn. If families move out of the current school’s attendance area, children are no longer eligible to attend the school and will be withdrawn.

Proof of residence may be established by a combination of the following documents:

Primary Proof of Residency

• Settlement papers
• Lease/rental agreement*
• Deed of property
• Current mortgage statement
• Current tax assessment bill.  

All documents must be originals.  Settlement papers and lease/rental agreements must be signed and dated by all parties. 

*Private party leases must be notarized by the landlord or a notarized letter from the landlord must be provided with the original lease. 

If there are concerns about the residence, if the original term of the lease has expired, or if the ownership information is more than one year old, two additional documents of recent mail (listed below) will be required.

All additional documents must be originals, not copies.  These documents must be delivered by US Postal mail and may include the following:

Secondary Proof of Residency

• non-cell phone bill
• utility bill
• credit card statement
• bank statement
• Mail from government agencies for official correspondence (excluding PGCPS)
• Hospital bill
• Auto, home, or health insurance policies

Copies of on-line documents are not acceptable as proof of residence with the exception of an electronic commercial lease accompanied by an original letter from the property manager.

For married couples where one spouse is the sole property owner/lessee, the property ownership/lessee documentation along with a marriage certificate and official mail of the registering spouse can be used for registration.

If you are unable to provide two proofs of residency in your name or are currently building/purchasing a home and moving into Prince George’s County prior to the end of the first quarter, contact the Office of Pupil Accounting at 301-952-6300.

Shared Housing Affidavit (if applicable)

If the family is living in the residence of a relative or a friend, a notarized Shared Housing Affidavit (Declaración Jurada de Residencia Compartida), signed by both parties detailing the living arrangement, is required.

• The relative or friend, with whom the parents reside, must show their primary proof of residency as listed in Part G.
• The parent registering the child must present official mail (secondary proof of residency listed in Part G) to the school within 30 days of enrollment.

Parents should be advised that the school system reserves the right to monitor this type of proof periodically or as needed. The documents must be originals, not copies.

NOTE: A notarized Shared Housing Affidavit should only be used when the parent/guardian and the student are living with relatives or friends and is completed on an annual basis.  Additional items including recent mail may be required if there are concerns regarding the proof of residence, if the original term of the lease has expired, or if the ownership information of the relative/friends more than one-year-old.

F. Proof of Income

The following proof of income is required from all parents in the household:

• If currently employed, two (bi-weekly) current pay stubs or four (weekly) current pay stubs.

Additional documents that may be accepted:

• Current Tax Return Transcript (Self Employed Only)
• Child Support Letter
• Unemployment Stubs/Letter
• Notarized letter from person assisting parent with the amount and how often given
• Notarized salary letter on company letterhead
• Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)