Pre-K Counts

pa-prek-counts

What is Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts?

Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts was established in 2007 by the PA Department of Education. The goal of the program is to bring free, high quality half-day and full-day pre-kindergarten education to 3 and 4 year old children across the Commonwealth. For a complete list of Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts grantees, visit the Pennsylvania Early Learning Keys to Quality website at www.pakeys.org or the PA Department of Education website at www.pde.state.pa.us

Enrollment and Eligibility

Pre-K Counts classes begin each fall with the start of the new school year. The program accepts enrollments and inquiries throughout the year. If there is no space currently available, we may place children on a waiting list.

PA Pre-K Counts is a FREE program for those children who qualify. In order to be eligible to attend Children’s Aid Society’s Pre-K Counts Program, a child needs to meet the following requirements:

  • Be between age 3 and the age of kindergarten eligibility
  • Have family income between 130% to 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
Persons in household48 Contiguous States and D.C. Poverty Guidelines (Monthly) 
 100%%300
1$1,215$3,645
2$1,643$4,930
3$2,072$6,215
4$2,500$7,500
5$2,928 $8,785
6

$3,357

$10,070
7$3,785$11,355
8$4,213$12,640

Children may also be eligible if they:

  • are an English Language Learner (the child lives in a household where a language other than English is spoken)
  • have cultural or special needs (for example, a child who has participated in the Infant/Toddler or the Preschool Early Intervention program)

Children’s Aid Society Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts:

  • Has teachers with the education and expertise to teach young children
  • Uses curriculum that helps children grow academically and socially
  • Regularly reviews children’s progress
  • Helps parents and children adjust to prekindergarten and smoothly transition to Kindergarten
  • Offers a small class size so that children can have plenty of one-on-one time with teachers

This program is supported by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) of Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services (DHS) and Pennsylvania’s Department of Education (PDE). For more information, visit dhs.pa.gov and education.pa.gov.