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NC Pre-K | North Carolina Prekindergarten Program

What is NC Pre-K?

The NC Pre-K Program is designed to provide high-quality educational experiences to enhance school readiness for eligible four-year-old children. The NC Pre-K Program Requirements are built on the National Education Goals Panel’s premise that to be successful academically in school, children need to be prepared in all five of the developmental domains that are critical to children’s overall well-being and success in reading and math as they enter school:

  • Approaches to play and learning
  • Emotional and social development
  • Health and Physical Development
  • Language development and communication
  • Cognitive development

The NC Pre-K Program Requirements are designed to ensure that a high-quality pre-kindergarten classroom experience is provided for eligible four-year-old children in each local NC Pre-K Program and that, to the extent possible, uniformity exists across the state. Programs are also required to meet the NC Child Care Rules. NC’s Pre-K program meets a number of nationally accepted benchmarks for measuring quality early learning. These include comprehensive Early Learning Standards; staff who are required to meet education/licensure requirements, professional development; 1:9 staff/child ratio; developmental screens and referral; evidence-based curriculum and formative assessments; monitoring and nutritional requirements. 

For parents seeking to prepare their children for success in pre-kindergarten programs or for transitioning to elementary school kindergarten, please see NC resource options below:

For teachers seeking support with the birth-kindergarten licensure process, see the link below:

Who do I contact for information about the NC Pre-K Program?

The NC Pre-K Program is administered by the NC Department of Health and Human Services under the Division of Child Development and Early Education, Early Education Branch.

The NC Pre-K Program is designed to provide high-quality educational experiences to enhance school readiness for eligible four-year-old children.  NC Pre-K programs must meet the NC Child Care Rules, including specific rules for administrators and teachers, the NC Pre-K Program Requirements, and other state-level policies. The NC Pre-K Program is administered at the county or regional level by Local Education Agencies, Smart Start Agencies, or Community Action Agencies and operated in 4- and 5-star-rated classrooms in public schools, child care centers, and Head Start programs.  Lead Teachers in these classrooms must hold or be working toward a North Carolina Birth-through-Kindergarten or Preschool Add-on Standard Professional II license.

How do I know if my child is eligible to participate in NC Pre-K?

The child must be four years old on or before August 31st of the program year.  A child that meets the age requirement is eligible for NC Pre-K if the child is from a family whose gross income is at or below 75% of the State Median Income (SMI).  Children of certain military families are also eligible without regard to income.  In addition, up to 20% of age-eligible children enrolled may have family incomes in excess of 75% SMI if they have documented risk factors in specific categories including developmental disability, Limited English Proficiency, educational need, or chronic health condition.

Although a child may meet one or more eligibility factors, placement is not guaranteed in an NC Pre-K classroom. Waiting lists exist in counties when funding is not sufficient to serve all eligible children.  Local NC Pre-K contract administrators can provide specific information about the enrollment process, available programs that meet NC Pre-K Program Requirements, and other specific information related to participation in NC Pre-K in your county, as well as other options for early childhood education services (e.g., Child Care SubsidyChild Care Resource and Referral, Head Start, Preschool Exceptional ChildrenSmart StartTitle I Preschool). 
This page has the most current information and updates about the NC Pre-K Program, local contact information, and supporting structures, including the Early Educator Support (EES) Unit. The EES Unit is the statewide education and licensure unit serving NC Pre-K teachers employed in nonpublic schools.  

NC Pre-K Fiscal and Contract Manual

NC Pre-K APP System

   To submit an NC Pre-K child application, please contact your local Contracting Agency in your county of residence here.

NC Pre-K Plan System

  To submit an NC Pre-K child application, please contact your local Contracting Agency in your county of residence here.

NC Pre-K Kids System

 To submit an NC Pre-K child application, please contact your local Contracting Agency in your county of residence here.

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2201 Mail Service Center | Raleigh, NC 27699-2200
919-814-6300 | 1-800-859-0829 (In State Only)
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