Now enrolling!

Wichita Public Schools offers free Pre-kindergarten programs for children who are 4 years old on or before Aug. 31 of the school year they will begin attending.

New for 2023-24

A limited number of spots will be available at Little Early Childhood Center for children who will be 3 years old on or before August 31, 2023. These students will need to meet eligibility criteria. The Early Childhood office staff will work with interested families to review that information after an interest form has been completed. (All three-year-old spots have been filled, and the wait list is closed as of May 22, 2023.)  

We are now accepting interest forms for the 2023-24 school year (next school year, for any students eligible).  

**Please note: There is NO transportation or latchkey provided**

Para ayuda en español llame al (316) 866-8038.

Early childhood learning is important to academic success for the rest of a child's life! Pre-kindergarten provides students with a rich curriculum and an innovative, engaging environment where purposeful play leads to learning in reading, writing, math, music, arts and more.  

The district's pre-kindergarten (or pre-k) program for four year olds is free of charge when the students or families meet at least one qualifying factor. Beginning in 2023-24, a limited number of spots will be available only at Little Early Childhood Center, also free of charge, for three year olds (all three-year-old spots have been filled, and the wait list is closed as of May 22, 2023).

Students attend school for three hours each day, in either the morning or afternoon. If childcare is needed for the other portion of the day, please discuss this with your Early Childhood specialist. 

The family must be able to transport the child to and from school or arrange for the transportation, and they are required to complete the federal free and reduced meal program application to help the Early Childhood program receive the funding needed to make pre-k available to families for free. We also ask that parents ensure the student attends school regularly to develop positive attendance habits for future grades.

Pre-k spots are also available through Wichita Public Schools at The Opportunity Project (TOP) North and Northwest.

Pre-K programs are available at the following elementary schools:

Shannon Benoit 
Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction

sbenoit@usd259.net

(316) 866-8043

Maria Sanchez-Lopez
Executive Assistant

mlopez3@usd259.net

(316) 866-8043

Allison Harris
Early Childhood Teaching Specialist

aharris1@usd259.net

(316) 866-8042

Stephanie Goertz
Early Childhood Teaching Specialist

sgoertz@usd259.net

(316) 866-8047

Erica Hartzler
Early Childhood Teaching Specialist

ehartzler@usd259.net

(316) 866-8049

Pauline Berry
Administrative Assistant
Pre-K Enrollment

prekenrollment@usd259.net

(316) 866-8037

If you're unsure whether your child qualifies for the free program, we invite you to complete the interest form above so that an Early Childhood specialist can contact you to discuss your child's placement.  

• Low income (for example, eligible for food assistance)
• Single-parent family
• Limited English proficiency
• Either parent lacking a high school diploma or GED
• Teen parent family
• Child qualifies for migrant status
• Agency referral
• Lower than expected developmental progress