Gwinnett County children who are four years old by September 1 may attend free pre-kindergarten through Georgia’s Pre-K Program, although enrollment is not mandatory.

 

This program includes 6½ hours of instruction daily for 180 school days.

 

Private childcare providers offer the majority of the available programs in Gwinnett.

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning contracts with Gwinnett County childcare centers to administer the pre-kindergarten curriculum.

 

Parents may search for a Pre-K program at any time, but most programs begin accepting applications in April for the following school year.

 

You can locate a Georgia’s Pre-K Program provider and review its performance report card by visiting the agency’s Web site at www.decal.state.ga.us or contact Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning at 404-656-5957 or 888-4GA-PREK (888-442-7735).

In Gwinnett County, early intervention services are provided at the T. Carl Buice School. Also, through the Head Start program, families meeting certain income eligibility criteria may send their 3- and 4-year-olds to preschool at no cost for tuition and other special services such as doctor visits and meals.

 

For more information, contact the Buice School (770-271-5060) or Ninth District Opportunity, Inc. Head Start (770-532-3191).

 

Services for students with special needs are available at each school and in self-contained classes at three facilities, the Oakland School (770-513-6800), the Hooper Renwick Center (770-682-4290), and the Monarch School (678-542-2330).

 

Hospital and homebound services also are available to students who are confined to their home or to a hospital for an extended period of time.