Columbus City Schools is currently offering our Pre-K program tuition-waived. 

Transportation is not provided for Early Childhood Education students unless your child has an IEP (Individualized Education Plan).

If your child has an IEP, initial transportation arrangements and changes are made through the Special Needs Preschool Office by calling (614)365-5204.

Students must attend school on time every day Monday - Friday.

Classrooms follow a full day schedule, generally from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  ECE students may participate in the breakfast program at their school which typically begins at 8:30 a.m.

For children identified as having special needs, half day classes are available. The morning half day schedule is 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The afternoon half day schedule is 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Breakfast, lunch, and snack are served every day. Breakfast typically begins at 8:30 a.m.

The priority enrollment period is from April to the beginning of July and follows Federal Title Fund Guidelines. If your child qualifies for priority enrollment and there is space at your chosen school, you will receive an offer for enrollment in your parent portal.

If your child does not qualify, you will be assigned a waitlist number. Once the priority enrollment period ends, you will receive an offer for enrollment if there is availability at your chosen school. Please check our webpage for the priority enrollment end date.

Students/families who meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Foster care youth
• Families who receive SNAP benefits (food stamps)
• Families who are in temporary housing (homeless)
• English-language learners

Federal title fund guidelines also include priority enrollment for students who meet both factors:

• Students with challenges in literacy and language (information is collected through an online parent survey)
• Students with challenges in social and emotional behavior (information is collected through an online parent survey)

Pre-K is open to ALL qualifying students, not just those who meet criteria for priority enrollment.

If your child starts school on the first day of the school year, teachers will contact families for Pre-K Orientation after returning from summer break (a couple of weeks before the first day of school). 

If your child starts school in the middle of the school year, please call the school to confirm your child’s start date.

**The medical must be submitted before your child can attend class.**

Please also be sure to complete the Pre-K Orientation Packet.

No. If enrolled in a lottery school and you want your child to attend the same school for kindergarten, you will need to participate in the lottery process. Please contact (614)365-7459 or email schoolchoice@columbus.k12.oh.us if you have school choice/ lottery questions for grades K-12.

Columbus Spanish Immersion Academy

Columbus Africentric

Duxberry Park

Ecole Kenwood French Immersion

Oakland Park

Some schools have a specific dress code or uniform policy. Where this is the case, Pre-K families are to adhere to those codes. For schools without a specific dress code, please dress your child in casual, comfortable play clothes. They will participate in many active and “messy” activities.

• Dress your child appropriately for the season and weather. The children go outside daily, if the weather is above 20 degrees. Please remember to bring hats and gloves and appropriate footwear for your children.
• For safety reasons, we ask that you not allow your child to wear open-toes or open-back shoes.
• Consistent with the Columbus City Schools dress code, students are not permitted to wear clothing with bare shoulders or bare midriffs and pants must be worn around the waist.

Please use the following link to see if your school has an established uniform policy: Dress Codes

School supplies are provided for Pre-K students at no cost to the parent/ guardian. Some schools may include a "Back to School" supply list for Pre-K on their webpages, but the items are not required.

Please bring a change of clothes in case of accidents. We also recommend that you label clothing with your child's name.