Instructional Specialist - Pre-K and Early Learning
803-416-8833
2025-26 4K Applications Open!
Pre-K Programs
The Lancaster County School District offers two full-day programs for three- and four-year-olds: Head Start and CERDEP. Please carefully read the descriptions of each below and follow the links for more details.
**Students must be 4 years old on or before September 1 to be eligible for our 4K programs. Students turning 5 years old by the Sept. 1st cutoff will not be eligible for 4K because they are able to register to go to Kindergarten. There are no exceptions to this state determined age requirement.**
Slider is playing
Head Start
Head Start 4K classes are located at Southside Early Childhood Center. They offer both 3K and 4K classes for eligible students.
*Child must turn three or four years old on or before September 1 to apply for Head Start
Students may be eligible for enrollment in Head Start based on the following at risk criteria:
income (at or below federal poverty level)
receive public assistance (TANF, SSI, SNAP)
homelessness
in foster care
Click HERE to learn more about Head Start.
CERDEP
The following schools have CERDEP 4K classes: Brooklyn Springs, Buford, Clinton, Erwin, Heath Springs, Kershaw, McDonald Green, North
Schools are eligible for a CERDEP 4K class if 60% or higher of the student population are considered Pupils in Poverty.
Students may be eligible for enrollment in CERDEP 4K based on the following at risk criteria:
meet income eligibility guidelines as determined by the Federal Poverty index
Medicaid OR 185% of the current Federal Poverty guidelines
meet developmental eligibility criteria, scoring below the twenty-fifth percentile on two of three subscales of the DIAL-4 screener (motor, concepts, language development)
Click HERE to learn more about CERDEP 4K.
What do we teach?
