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Welcome Center » Preschool

Preschool

The Reading Elementary Preschool Program is a Gold-level preschool (previously 5 stars) based on the Department of Children and Youth's Step Up To Quality rating system. Programs that earn the Gold-level rating meet or exceed quality program standards. The Reading Elementary Preschool Program strives to provide the Reading community with a preschool program that welcomes families and prepares children for kindergarten and beyond. 

 

 Preschool Options:

  • Full-day program—The full-day program is in session Monday through Friday and follows the same school calendar as Reading Elementary. Hours are 8:10 AM—2:30 PM.
  • Half-day program - The half-day program is 4 half-days per week (no preschool on Fridays). The morning session is an integrated preschool program (8 students with an IEP and 8 peer models). Hours are 7:45 AM – 10:45 AM. The afternoon session is for special needs students. Hours are 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM. The half-day sessions follow the same school calendar as Reading Elementary except for no school for students on Fridays.   

 

Enrollment Information:   The Reading Community City Schools uses an online lottery system for peer models. The Link for the lottery can be found here. The link will take you to a brief Google Form.  The form will be live until January 10th. 

 

Families will be emailed of acceptance into the program by January 24th.

 

If you do not respond to the EMAIL from the District notifying you of acceptance into the program within 24 hours your name will be removed from the list and the next person will be contacted. 

 

Preschoolers with a disability are eligible for the program when they turn 3 years of age. All peer models must be 3 years of age on or before September 30th to enter the lottery. Enrollment is completed online at Final Forms. 

 

Priority for acceptance into the program will occur as follows:

 

  • Reading residents that are 4 years old or 5 years old by September 30th
  • Reading residents that are 3 years old by September 30th
  • Children of staff members that are 4 or 5 years old by September 30th
  • Children of staff members that are 3 years old by September 30th
  • Open enrollment of children that are 4 or 5 years old by September 30th
  • Open enrollment of children that are 3 years old by September 30th

 

Preschool Tuition:  Tuition for the full-day program for the 2024-2025 school year is $5000 ($490/month for 10 months) and the half-day program is $2500 ($245/month for 10 months). Tuition is currently being reviewed by the District and will be determined at the December 18 Board of Education meeting. A non-refundable deposit of $100 for the full-day program and $50 for the half-day program is due on or before January 31st. If it is not received by 3:00 on January 31st you will forfeit your acceptance into the program. The deposit will be deducted from the annual amount.  Monthly payments are due on the 10th day of each month. Information will be provided regarding how to pay online upon acceptance into the program. 

 

Tuition rates and program hours are subject to change, pending board approval.

 

Requirements for peer models and children applying for the full-day program:

  • The child is 3 years old on or before September 30th
  • The child is completely potty trained (wears underwear and has no daytime accidents)

 

Program Information:  Reading preschool teachers are licensed by the Ohio Department of Education. Instruction is based on the Ohio Early Learning and Developmental Standards and the skills our students need to successfully transition to kindergarten.

 

Additional program information is available in the Preschool Handbook.

 

Ohio Department of Education Mandate: The Ohio Department of Education recently enacted a new preschool rule (OAC 3301-37). This new rule was enacted to “ensure that a continuum of alternative placements is available to meet the needs of children with disabilities for special education and related services.” The rule requires public school districts to “annually prepare, post publicly, and make available to parents during the evaluation process a list of available preschool special education options in the community.” The list cannot be limited to service providers within the district’s geographic boundaries and should include providers outside of the district that may be more accessible to children within the district. To meet the requirements of the new rule, additional Preschool Options may be viewed here.

 

Specific questions regarding Reading’s preschool should be directed to Sarah Blair at

842-5101 or [email protected].