Four Year Old Kindergarten
A Great Start For Your Student
Orangeburg County School Districtprovides a great start for our youngest learners! Our program is available for children who are four years old before September 1, 2024. The program is a full-day learning experience, following the regular arrival and dismissal times of your child's school.
Parents/guardians of rising pre-kindergarten students may register at their zoned school with a completed enrollment packet. Enrollment packets will be available at the school. All required documents, including proof of residence, an official birth certificate, immunization record, Medicaid card, and income verification must be provided for a student to be considered for enrollment.
Enrollment for the 4K Child Development Education Program is non-discriminatory.
All registered students will be baseline-tested using a school readiness screening tool. Upon registration, parents will be notified of their child's screening date and time. CERDEP/4K screenings will be held after April 24, 2024.
Four-Year-Old Kindergarten
Orangeburg County School District offers an all-day 4K program. Registration for families interested in our 4K program for the 2023-2024 school year is going on now.
What is 4K?
Four-year-old-kindergarten is commonly referred to as 4K. It provides an enrichment opportunity for children prior to kindergarten. It is a program designed to nurture the social, emotional and early academic skills of four-year-old children. A 4K program does not take the place of kindergarten.
Why offer 4K?
Four-year-old kindergarten provides children with quality early learning experiences that help provide a solid foundation for future success in school. Numerous research studies show long-term benefits for children who participate in high-quality early childhood programs, such as gains in cognition, knowledge, motor skills and language. Offering 4K through the school district ensures access to a quality pre-kindergarten program for all participants.
Orangeburg County School District Program Details:
Children will attend 4K five days per week on a regular school day schedule. All children are eligible to apply for this program. Applicants are then screened and eligibility is determined based on need. Slots may be available for any other students until all spaces are filled. The OCSD 4K program follows the OCSD school calendar.
Will all students be enrolled in a 4K class?
Students who show need/screen not ready for Kindergarten will be given first choice. Then other students will be given the option of attendance as space allows.
Will bus transportation be provided?
Transportation will be provided to the zoned school following state guidelines. Parents requesting out-of-zone placement will have to provide transportation.
What if I want my child to attend a school I am not zoned for?
Zoned students will be placed before out-of-zone requests are honored.
Who will teach my child?
All of our 4K classes are taught by certified Early Childhood Educators.
What curriculum will the district use for 4K?
The district uses Big Day for Pre-K, one of the state-approved choices to be used in a 4K classroom, along with Letterland and Waterford, to promote reading and math comprehension.
Will my child take a nap each day?
Quiet time is built into each day’s schedule. Quiet time does not always mean a nap. Students may read, listen to music, or be read to during this time to quiet their minds and bodies from the activities/lessons of the day.
Resources
SC - Early Learning StandardsThe South Carolina Early Learning Standards (SC-ELS) describes children’s development and learning from birth to age five. The Division of Early Care and Education and the Office of Early Learning and Literacy in the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) provided co- leadership for this initiative and have contributed critical advice, oversight, and vision on the ELS and its implementation. To view/download the SC Early Learning Standards click on “Standards”.
Parent Friendly SC-Early Learning Standards
There are six areas of growth and experience that research tells us are involved in helping a child progress and succeed. These guides offer a brief introduction to each area and provide samples of the experiences and skills children need to be prepared to move through preschool at three, four, and five years of age. Click on the words "Ready, Set - Kindergarten" to go to the Carolina Family Engagement Center website, to learn more.
Palmetto Pre-K
Palmetto Pre-K is your one-stop shop for finding free educational Pre-K programs in South Carolina. The Early Childhood Advisory Council, the connector and convener of the state's early childhood serving agencies, is committed to providing support in this joint outreach and coordinated enrollment effort for subsidized Pre-K programs in SC. For more information on this program click on the following "Palmetto Pre-K" to go to their website.
First Five SC
First Five SC began as an idea in 2019 with a simple principle: families deserve a responsive one-stop portal to learn about public programs and services to help with their child’s growth and development.
First Five SC is committed to serving as a holistic tool for families to increase knowledge, choice, and access. First Five SC aims to support communities and professionals who help families across the state. To learn more, click on "First 5 Portal".
SCDE Learning Engagement Coach For Families
To ensure students are engaged and ready to learn, SCR2L will provide five Learning Engagement Coaches (LECs), one to serve each of the five eLearning Regions. The LECs will assist families with remote learning instructional delivery, schools with students who are unresponsive, and collaborate with local service agencies for services to families. For more information click "SCDE Learning" to visit the website.
Waterford Early Learning
Waterford.org is an education nonprofit that believes every child deserves equitable access to high-quality early learning. Whether in a classroom with a teacher, or at home with family, Waterford provides programs from PreK through 6th grade that set the foundation of literacy, math, and science. For more information click "Waterford" to visit the website.
Letterland Learning
Letterland was created to teach phonics using a story-based approach. The story logic engages students, leading to long-term retention of concepts. What's more, Letterland is wonderfully multi-sensory. It activates every learning channel through music, actions, alliteration, movement, song, art, games, and role-play. To learn more, click on "Letterland".