Early Childhood Education

The Prekindergarten program incorporates the domains of learning to guide daily instruction. Integration of the Maryland Early Learning Standards and Maryland’s College and Career Readiness Standards into lessons and activities provides a content-rich curriculum.  Research-based curricular resources incorporated with engaging instructional activities provides the foundation for building confident, skilled early learners.

Domains include:

• Language and Literacy
• Mathematics
• Social Foundations
• Science
• Social Studies
• Fine Arts
• Physical Well-Being and Motor Development

Currently, the prekindergarten programs utilize the Frog Street program to guide academic instructional activities and social emotional learning.  The program incorporates daily conscious discipline activities to promote students’ awareness of self, acceptance of others, and nurturing relationships.

Pre-K Registration / Enrollment Information

The Maryland State Board of Education has COMAR regulations that apply to all prekindergarten half-day programs.  The new guidelines under Maryland’s Blueprint for the Future legislation apply to full-day prekindergarten programs.  These regulations determine eligibility and selection of students for each district’s pre-k programs.  School sites must fill those vacancies by the criteria set forth in the policies, giving priority to those children who meet eligibility criteria.  Students not meeting eligibility guidelines are placed on a Wait List.  We encourage all interested families to apply!

Allegany County Public Schools is in transition of expanding full-day program opportunities.  Each elementary school / center houses either half-day programs, full day programs, or both.

Eligibility:

Age:
PreK 3  - 3 years old on or before September 1 of the school year
PreK 4 -  4 years old on or before September 1 of the school year

Tier I:
Family Annual Income (for 4-year-old children only):
Half-Day Programs - Children from families with annual income at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level
Full Day programs - Children from families with an annual income at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level

Other Eligibility Considerations:
Child lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence
Child is enrolled in Special Education - Documented IEP, IFSP (Infants and Toddlers)
Child is in foster care

Tier II:
Children from families with annual income over the Tier I guidelines.

Transportation:

Pre-K 4 Full Day Programs - School bus transportation is provided to and from school.

Pre-K 4 Half Day Programs:

• Pre-K Half Day Morning - School bus transportation is to-school only. Families will pick-up their student(s) at mid-day dismissal.
• Pre-K Half Day Afternoon - Families will drop-off student(s) at mid-day arrival. School bus transportation is from-school only.

Pre-K 3 Half Day Programs - School bus transportation is not provided.

Notification of Enrollment:
Families of Tier I-eligible students will be notified by June 30.  Families with children on a wait list will be notified after the Labor Day holiday.

Out of District Requests:
Information regarding the out of district process is provided at registration in the home school.  Requests are approved after in-district applications have been exhausted.

• What is it?

  The Westmar Early Learning Center, which opened in the Fall of 2022 at Westmar Middle School, serves as a hub for services to benefit young children and their families. The Center offers the following programs for the George’s Creek and Westernport communities:

  ACPS

  Pre-K 3 Classroom (3 year-olds) — 2 half day A.M./P.M. sessions

  Pre-K 4 Classrooms (4 year-olds) — 3 full-day programs

  Pre-K 4 Classroom-1 half day if needed based on registration

  • Judy Center Early Learning Hub
  • Sensory Room
  • Infants and Toddlers Office

  Head Start

  • Early Head Start Classroom—toddlers
  • Head Start Classroom—1 half day P.M. session for 3 and 4 year-olds

  Where is it?

  The early learning classrooms and offices are housed in sections of Westmar Middle School, a convenient location for both communities.

  How do I register my child?

  For the ACPS programs, follow the procedures outlined for school registration.  Contact the WELC at Westmar (301) 463-5751, when registration dates are announced to set up an appointment to bring documents and complete registration.  See the ACPS website for details.  Although all George’s Creek and Westernport pre-k programs are housed in the Westmar Early Learning Center at Westmar Middle School, students will be designated as belonging to their in-district school.