General Education Preschool

Welcome to ASD Preschool! General education preschool programs are available in some school locations. Please read below for program details, eligibility, and selection before applying.

2023-2024

(Child must be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2023)

*If your child turns 5 on or before Sept. 1, 2023, he/she will be in Kindergarten and is not eligible for preschool*

CLICK HERE: 2023-2024 General Education Preschool Application

*****

ASD General Education Preschool

4-Year-Old Program Information

2023-2024

Eligibility

• Children must be 4 years old on or before September 1, 2023

  • There is no early entry exception

• Families must live in the school zone of where the program is located to be included in selection (neighborhood programs)

  • Childcare or a family address cannot be used for location eligibility

  • ANCCS and King Tech do not have a neighborhood school zone

  • Orion will accept applicants from Orion and Aurora school zones

• KCI Head Start Collaborative programs require families to meet Head Start income eligibility guidelines for Alaska

• Eagle River Elementary applicants must meet income guidelines for free/reduced lunch; applicants must live in the Eagle River/Chugiak area

• Migrant Education programs require families to be eligible for Migrant Education Services

• Children with special education service are welcome to apply

• Proof of residency is required at the time of registration (not required for families experiencing homelessness)

• Selection for neighborhood programs is based on families experiencing hardships and risk factors 

• Balance of gender by classroom, whenever possible 

Program Schedule

• Programs operate 11:30am-3:30pm, Monday-Friday

• King Tech operates 8:30am-1:30pm, Tuesday-Friday

• All programs follow the ASD district calendar

• Transportation is not available for general education preschool programs

Program Selection

• First round of selection: Families will be notified of selection results beginning March 31, 2023

• Second round of selection: Families will be notified of selection results beginning July 21, 2023

• Acceptance after the selection dates will depend on available spots in each classroom

• Review selection information below

Program Eligibility & Information

Please read all information carefully to determine which program(s) your family is eligible for.

A separate application is needed if applying for multiple programs.

General Education preschool programs help young children learn the skills and knowledge needed to enter kindergarten. Eligibility/selection information for each program is described below. 

*If a general education preschool program is not available at the school your home address is zoned for and your family does not meet eligibility requirements for other programs, scroll down for information on the Buddy Bear program. 

Neighborhood/Title I Programs 

(Airport Heights, Alaska Native Cultural Charter School, Bowman, Chester Valley, Chinook, College Gate, Eagle River Elementary, Fairview, Klatt, Lake Otis, Mountain View, Muldoon, North Star, Northwood, Nunaka Valley, Orion, Ptarmigan, Russian Jack, Spring Hill, Susitna, Taku, Trailside, Turnagain, William Tyson, Ursa Minor, Williwaw, Wonder Park)

Families must live in the school zone where the program is located to be included in selection (neighborhood programs).

Due to limited space, families living outside the school zone are not considered at this time.

• • Eagle River Elementary applicants must meet income eligibility guidelines for free/reduced lunch; applicants will be accepted from the Eagle River/Chugiak area

  • ANCCS does not have a neighborhood school zone
    Orion will accept applicants from Orion and Aurora school zones

  • Families with other children attending the school site on a zone exemption or in a lottery program are considered in-zone

• Selection is based on families experiencing hardships and/or risk factors including, but not limited to:

  • Child in Transition (CIT)/homelessness

  • Special education needs

  • Dual language needs

  • Unstable/transient housing

  • Hardships or crises

  • Developmental concerns

• Transportation is not available for general education preschool programs

Kids' Corps, Inc. Head Start Collaborative Programs

(Creekside Park, Gladys Wood, North Star, Willow Crest)

• Families must meet Head Start income eligibility requirements (more info www.kcialaska.org)

• Preference is given to families that are income eligible and live in the school zones of where the programs are located

• At-risk factors are considered in selection

• Transportation is not available for general education preschool programs

• After applying, your application will be forwarded to Kids' Corps, Inc. (KCI) Head Start. An enrollment specialist from KCI will then contact you to begin working on the eligibility process

Migrant Education Programs 

(Denali, Ocean View)

• Families must meet Migrant Education eligibility requirements (more info click HERE or call ASD Migrant Ed at 907-742-4275)

• Families currently eligible for Migrant Education services participate in fishing, logging, cannery work, berry picking, etc. for seven or more days out of the calendar year, outside of Anchorage with the child participating in these activities. Eligibility is certified by the State of Alaska

• At-risk factors are considered in selection

• Transportation is not available for general education preschool programs

Career Technical Education Collaboration

(King Tech)

• Fee-based program: $500/semester
• At-risk factors are considered in selection
• High school students taking courses in Early Childhood Education work with the preschool students under direct supervision of the preschool teacher

• Transportation is not available for general education preschool programs

Special Education Preschool

ASD offers preschool programs and services for children experiencing developmental delays and other disabilities. Children are placed into regional programs by an Individual Education Plan (IEP) team. These programs include Developmental, Communication, Listening & Spoken Language, and the Alaska State School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing classrooms. If you are concerned about your child’s development, please contact Early Intervention Services at 742-2657 or visit www.asdk12.org/preschool/earlyintervention. Families do not need to fill out a preschool application for special education regional classrooms, but are welcome to apply for any general education preschool programs.

Buddy Bear Program

(Various Locations)

Buddy Bears are typically developing preschool students that attend preschool in a special education preschool classroom and provide opportunities for preschool students with disabilities to interact and be educated with typically-developing peers. The Buddy Bear model is not intended to provide early childhood education for typically-developing children; it is designed to support the development of young children who are identified as developmentally-delayed or disabled. 

Buddy Bear Program

To apply, click the link below:

2023-2024 Buddy Bear Application

2023-2024 Information

A Buddy Bear is a typically developing child that serves as a peer model for children in special education preschool classrooms. Buddy Bears provide opportunities and model age-appropriate social skills, language, and behavior for preschool students with disabilities. 

The Buddy Bear Program model is not intended to provide traditional early childhood education for typically-developing children; it is designed to support the development of young children who are identified as developmentally-delayed or disabled.  

A maximum of three Buddy Bears are allocated per classroom.  Allocations will be determined by the principal and school team and will be reviewed throughout the school year. The number of Buddy Bear students allocated to each preschool special education class is based on the enrollment and needs of the special education students in each class.

Program Information

• Children 4-years-old on or before September 1, 2023 attend 11:30am-3:30pm, Monday-Friday
• Children younger than 4-years-old on or before September 1, 2023 attend either 8:15-10:45am or 12:15pm-2:45pm, Tuesday-Friday
• Communication programs (Creekside, Taku, Ravenwood) operate 8:15-10:45am or 12:15pm-2:45pm, Tuesday/Wednesday or Thursday/Friday
• Age Eligibility: Children must be at least 3 years old to apply
• **Buddy Bears at Russian Jack must be able to use American Sign Language to communicate
• **Buddy Bears at Government Hill must be able to speak Spanish to communicate

Transportation is not provided for the Buddy Bear Program.

Application and Selection

In consultation with the school team(s), principals select Buddy Bears based on program and classroom needs, and returning Buddy Bear status. Buddy Bear applicants must complete the Buddy Bear Application. The Ages & Stages (ASQ) Screener is completed by the family when contacted by a school for possible selection.

Families will be contacted by the school if/when a program determines space is available for a Buddy Bear. Families may be contacted for a potential spot in the Buddy Bear program throughout the school year. 

After applying, you will receive a copy of the application via email. You will not be contacted unless a school is pursuing adding Buddy Bears to their special education preschool classrooms.

Buddy Bears must reapply each school year.