https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 04 Jul 2026 14:47:10 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389982 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 23:31:10 +0000 sera_87 2389982@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: it's only because daycare costs are absurd in Ontario. I'm not sure I agree with the approach :bummed: </p> <p>We have no preK. Kindergarten starts at 5. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389958 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 22:59:40 +0000 Foodnerd81 2389958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our city has very limited slots for 3 year old preK (most kids with IEPs or some particular special need) and still limited seats for 4 year old preK. The days are the standard day for the school they are in (so 8-2:30 or 9-3, or whatever, varies by the school). Seats are limited and it's a lottery. </p> <p>For me (as a sahm) that would be too long of a day. It seems like day cares are set up more as some learning but also lots of free play and down time, which kids that little need. PreK seems more like a full day of academic learning. But I could be totally wrong about that, having never really researched either. LO will turn 3 this summer but I'm definitely not putting her in the lottery for the 3s program. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389754 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 18:29:54 +0000 honeybear 2389754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There's some sort of part-day preK available, but we skipped it.</p> <p>@Ree723: Whoa, that's intense! Is homeschooling an option there? I feel like if they're actually getting all 4 year-olds to do that, there must be a lot of drill-and-kill going on, and that's not to anyone's benefit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389650 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:39:25 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2389650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ree723: I dont think I agree with pushing down the K standards to 4 year olds, but I do think there is a place for a bit of learning by age 4 (although I agree play based learning is very important). Studies have shown that strong programs exposing kids to basic standards (shapes, colors, numbers, letters, letter sounds etc) set them up not only better for Kindergarten but also future success. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389599 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:02:20 +0000 Ree723 2389599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: Oh I agree! I just don't like it here because they've essentially moved what would be the kindergarten curriculum down to four year olds. By the end of the Reception year (pre-K) of school, so just three weeks after my LO would turn five (school runs until mid-July here), she is expected to be reading fluently, writing simple sentences, and doing basic addition and subtraction with numbers 0-20. To me, that is asinine. All the research in the world shows that starting academic learning too young has absolutely no benefit and is in fact detrimental. The only learning kids should really be doing until the age of six is learning through play.</p> <p>Argh, this is a topic I feel really strongly about, hence why I am fighting the system here tooth and nail! I'm fairly sure I am already known as the pain in the arse American amongst the local schools here... :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389449 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 14:18:55 +0000 snowjewelz 2389449@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think we have public/free pre-K in our town. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389441 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 14:15:18 +0000 mrsjazz 2389441@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: We have universal pre-k both half and full day options. They are adding more half day slots because a lot of parents complained about their kids not being ready for a full day.</p> <p>LO will hopefully go to her zone school for UPK, 5 days a week from 8:20 to 2:40. We will have to find afterschool programming for her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389412 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 13:54:35 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2389412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ree723: I think it also totally depends on what they do during the time. My daughter is 4 and goes to preschool/daycare for 9+ hours per day and has since she was an infant. But there is only about 1-2 hours of actual lessons/instruction per day so I feel like its a good balance. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389409 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 13:52:22 +0000 JoJoGirl 2389409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: Ours is exactly the same. Even our K here is only 12-2:45pm!!!!! We don't get "full day" (8-3) public school until 1st grade. SUCKS. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389408 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 13:51:57 +0000 BandDmommy 2389408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Doesn't exist here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389407 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 13:50:50 +0000 avivoca 2389407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It is tuition-based and in a lottery...just depends on how much space they have. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389340 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 13:07:37 +0000 TemperanceBrennan 2389340@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's half day - you can choose the AM or the PM option. Most daycares/preschools in the area provide transportation to/from. There is a $40 supplies fee for the entire school year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389327 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 13:01:28 +0000 Ree723 2389327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: Lol, true! Although some days, the idea of sending them out all day sounds very, very appealing!!! :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389318 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 12:57:26 +0000 KT326 2389318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just looked up our public option and it is from 8:30-12:15 (or 1:15 depending on the school). I can't tell if they have an option for extended day care though. Right now we have our LO in a private daycare that offers preschool and junior kindergarten. I have until the end of the year to decide which one I will enroll him in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389301 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 12:45:30 +0000 regberadaisy 2389301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ree723: it's only too long because you're a SAHM. :) It would be perfect if you WOH. ;) But I hear you. My cousins PreK is full day and her kids have always been home with her. she didn't like it so they're homeschooling for the time being. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389276 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 12:32:25 +0000 Ree723 2389276@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, kids here start full time school at four, from 8:45-3:15, which I hate, so we won't be doing it. We are applying for a deferral for DD1 to start school at 5 instead. </p> <p>Kids here get 15 hours a week of free preschool education from the term after they turn three, and then are entitled to free full time education from the September after they turn four. Way too early IMO. DD1 does two mornings a week now at 3.5 yrs old (6 hours a week) and will do four mornings a week (12 hours/week) all of next year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389265 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 12:27:15 +0000 lilteacherbee 2389265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I taught public pre-k and it was full-day (followed the same schedule as elementary schools, so mine was 8-2:30). In NC, it's free and for "at-risk" kids, though. The families had to either be low-income or ESL. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389259 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 12:25:11 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2389259@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are a while from needing it, but it appears that Georgia has free pre-K programs for 4 year-olds that run 6.5 hours a day, 5 days a week. They are funded by the state lottery but they are on a first come, first serve basis so you are not guaranteed a spot. </p> <p> You can also pay for extended care if you are a working parent and need a longer stretch of care before you can get off work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389226 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 12:09:31 +0000 winniebee 2389226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There's no public pre-k in the town we are in. I think that you are lucky to even have a public option as the preschools in my area are absurdly $$$. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389225 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 12:07:58 +0000 kiddosc 2389225@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: We already had to register him for next fall, we went on the first day to make sure we got into the program at our daycare. It's was definitely a contributing factor to choosing this daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389224 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 12:07:46 +0000 ShootingStar 2389224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have public preschool (3-5 year olds) from 9-12 and it's not free. I think it's $300/month. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389218 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 12:06:14 +0000 regberadaisy 2389218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc: yeah, I know another district that does that. I don't think ours does. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389209 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 12:00:39 +0000 kiddosc 2389209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's only 3 hours/4 days a week. But some of the public programs are taught at private daycare centers, including the one we send E to. He'll just move to a different room when it's time for preK and we end up getting a discount on our daycare since he's technically not there a full day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389203 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 11:57:54 +0000 MamaG 2389203@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: Yes. That's correct. There is a state mandated Pre-K as well that is available if you meet certain criteria, which we do not meet. That is free and it is half day (I believe about 3 hours/day). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389193 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 11:54:13 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2389193@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: it starts at four too which some aren't happy about but I think is great. We can pay for after care until six. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389192 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 11:54:04 +0000 regberadaisy 2389192@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaG: wait. Your school district offers PreK but you have to pay for it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389191 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 11:53:37 +0000 HLK208 2389191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ours is the same...and it's more expensive than private :bummed: </p> <p>They also don't have school when the rest of the school has half days (two random days per month). I don't know how working parents do it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389188 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 11:52:59 +0000 Autumnmama79 2389188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No public pre-k here (western Canada), is all paid/private. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389186 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 11:52:40 +0000 MamaG 2389186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our public program in our school district is not free - it's private pay and admission is application/lottery based. It is a full school day 8:00 - 3:00 and for another fee we can use the extended day/after school program from 3:00 - 6:00. In our district 80-100 kids get in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-is-your-public-prek#post-2389185 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 11:52:27 +0000 regberadaisy 2389185@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: that is awesome. Basically a full school day.</p> <p>@T.H.O.U.: haha LOL I wish NY state gave us a partial refund. ;) Never mind low income. Any family that has both parents working full time, that's just not possible. </p>