GA Pre-K

Our Growing Room curriculums are tailored for Georgia Pre-K programs, providing high-quality preschool experiences for 4-year-olds.

THE CURRICULUM

Pre-K

To enroll, your child must be 4 years old by September 1 of the school year. Program hours are 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., following local public school calendars. The core instructional program is free, with optional fees for meals and extended day services.

We use the HighReach Learning Approach in all Pre-K classrooms. This theme-based, hands-on curriculum balances child-initiated and teacher-guided activities, allowing children to explore and manipulate real objects, solve problems, and think creatively. The program emphasizes whole-child development—physically, cognitively, and socially.

Children develop skills in:

  • Language & Literacy – listening, phonological awareness, reading, writing, expressive language

  • Mathematics – numbers, patterns, shapes, and basic problem-solving

  • Science & Social Studies – exploring their environment and communities

  • Creativity – music, art, dramatic play, and imaginative thinking

Classroom Structure

Pre-K classrooms are arranged into clearly defined learning areas:

  • Language & Literacy

  • Math/Manipulatives

  • Dramatic Play

  • Art

  • Blocks

  • Science

  • Music & Movement

  • Outdoor Play

A predictable daily routine is posted for children to follow, supporting social, emotional, and physical development. Children learn:

  • Self-control, responsibility, and respect for themselves, others, and property

  • Positive interactions to enhance comfort, security, and self-esteem

  • Appreciation for their roles in the family, classroom, and community

  • Respect for differences in people

Children participate in gross-motor activities to develop control, balance, strength, and coordination, as well as fine-motor activities for hand-eye coordination. Healthy and safe living practices are taught, and assessment is ongoing, involving parents. End-of-year activities help families and children transition smoothly to kindergarten.

Developing

young minds.

Established in 1993 and funded by the Georgia Lottery for Education, the Pre-K Program supports children in:

  • Making decisions independently

  • Thinking creatively and problem-solving

  • Building foundational academic and social-emotional skills

Children will leave Pre-K with strong listening skills, phonological awareness, reading and writing abilities, number sense, pattern recognition, and shape understanding—all key for kindergarten success.

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Enrollment & Eligibility

To ensure your child qualifies for Georgia Pre-K, contact your local Growing Room school for:

  • Proof of Georgia residency

  • Age verification (child must be 4 by September 1)

  • Availability of openings

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FAQs

A child must be age-eligible (four-years-old on September 1) and a Georgia resident. Acceptable proof of age must be on file the day the child begins the Pre-K program.

Examples of acceptable proof of age include: Original/certified birth certificate, passport, green card, pink card, or Federal I-94 card and hospital record of live birth. Immunization forms and Medicaid cards are not acceptable documentation for proof of age.
Examples of proof of residency include: current lease, current vehicle registration form, letter from shelter, letter from employer if employer provides housing, mortgage documents, property tax notice, homeowner’s insurance bill, or current Peachcare eligibility documents and any utility bill listing the residence as the service address. A cell phone bill or a driver’s license are not acceptable proof of residency.
No, social security cards/numbers are not required to enroll in Georgia’s Pre-K.
The Social Security Number Information Form may be completed in lieu of providing a copy of your child’s Social Security card.
Georgia’s Pre-K Program operates just like a school classroom. Parents commit to sending their child to school for the complete 6.5 hour instructional day 180 days per year. Children can be disenrolled for being chronically tardy in the morning or being picked up prior to the end of the instructional day.
Georgia’s Pre-K requires centers and schools provide a complete nutritional meal for children. Local schools/sites may set policies regarding bringing food to school. If your child has identified special food requirements, contact your Pre-K provider for individual guidance.
Chronic tardiness is defined as late arrival or early departure more than once per week.
To learn how to enroll a child in Georgia’s Pre-K program please refer to “Enrolling in Pre-K” available at http://decal.ga.gov/BftS/EnrollingInPreK.aspx .
Although your child is only beginning his education, now is a good time to start planning for the future. The Path2College 529 Plan, an authority operated under the Georgia Office of Treasury and Fiscal Services (OTFS), gives parents a way to start saving today to prepare for a child’s tomorrow. With a Path2College 529 Plan account, any earnings in your account are free from federal income taxes when used for qualified higher education expenses. Then, when it’s time for college, the money you withdraw for qualified higher education expenses is also tax-free.

For additional information visit the Path2College website.

Additional Resources

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