Pre-K Enrollment
Building Blocks for Children’s Success in Early Childhood
What's Important
ImpactTulsa’s Pre-K Enrollment campaign is devoted to the thousands of children across Tulsa who are not yet participating in the city’s first-rate Pre-K programs. By raising awareness about the situation, we hope to encourage families to take advantage of existing resources and have their children enjoy the benefits of qualitative pre-K education.
Why It Matters
Opportunity gaps begin to form in the earliest years of a child’s life, and education is the most reliable weapon against the inequities that perpetuate them. Pre-K is the building block that ensures a child is equipped for kindergarten, ready to read in the third grade, able to succeed in middle school math, and far more likely to graduate high school. Without Pre-K, a child’s chances of reaching each of these milestones significantly decrease.
What the Data Says
Eliminating gaps requires early childhood interventions, and high-quality preschool is essential in this regard. A growing body of evidence suggests that Pre-K enrollment is critical to a child’s academic accomplishments.
While nearly 60% of the region’s kindergartners enter school ready to learn, among the 40% who don’t, few make enough progress during kindergarten to catch up to grade level. Pre-K education can bridge this gap.
What is Pre-K really going to teach my child?
As children prepare to enter kindergarten, there’s a lot of growth and brainwork that’s happening in these crucial years. He or she may seem small, but she’s more than ready and eager to start learning! Quality Pre-K programs will focus on the following milestones:
- Letter recognition and sounds
- Colors, shapes, and objects
- Numbers 1-10, including recognition and counting
- Hand-eye coordination through cutting with scissors and drawing
- Playing and sharing with others
- Cooperating and following rules
- Language development and the vocabulary used at school
- Experience working independently and in groups
My child already knows a lot of these. What can schools teach that I can’t?
The Tulsa area’s free Pre-K program is the envy of the nation. We have trained teachers who provide a safe environment for your child to transition into full-time school. While your child may be getting excellent academic instruction at home, nothing can replace the social lessons he or she is getting by interacting with other children in a structured learning environment.
I work full time. How can I get my child to and from school?
Before-and after-school care programs are a great option for working parents because of location, supervision, and transportation. Not all of the schools in the Tulsa area offer after-school care, but many do offer it at varying times and for varying prices.
It’s best to check with your district at enrollment to see what they have available.
What will I need to bring when I enroll?
Each district varies, but you will need the following:
- Parent/guardian’s government issued ID or driver’s license
- Proof of address
– This can be a gas, water, or cable bill or a lease or housing contract - Child’s state-issued birth certificate
- Updated immunization records
- Child’s social security number
- Any legal custody forms
I don’t have a birth certificate for my child. Where can I get one?
If your child was born in Oklahoma, you can request a birth certificate through the Oklahoma Health Department by filling out the form here.
In addition to the signed form, be sure to enclose a copy of current legal photo ID, and the fees as noted on the form.
What immunizations does my child need for school?
Please visit the Tulsa Health Department website here for guidance on immunizations and how to obtain them.