Pre-K in the Golden Isles
Attention, parents of little ones ready for Pre-K in the Golden Isles - Georgia offers a lottery program for FREE Pre-K! Navigating and understanding how the lottery works can be confusing, so we've broken everything down here.
FACES Pre-K Center
In Glynn County, pre-kindergarten is run through the FACES (Family and Children’s Educational Services) Pre-Kindergarten Center in Brunswick.
Pre-K is for children who will be 4 years old on or before September 1st. Registration often occurs on or around December 1st, with local parents holding their breath until early spring to hear if their rising PreK'er got in. Public elementary schools in Brunswick and St. Simons Island and a few privately-run preschools participate in the free lottery program, and seats are limited.
Make sure to check the FACES website in November for details about registration for the following school year.
FACES Summer Transition Program
The FACES Prekindergarten Center recently received a Summer Transition Program (STP) grant from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL). The school was awarded two rising kindergarten classes and will serve a maximum of 24 students this summer.
The Summer Transition Program is a six-week intensive academic program for rising kindergarteners who meet eligibility requirements. The program will be held from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday, June 7 through Friday, July 16, at the FACES Pre-K Center at 1900 Lee St. in Brunswick.
Click here for more information.
How You're Notified if Your Child Got Into the Free Pre-K Lottery Program
FACES starts making calls to parents in March of each year. It takes them several weeks to complete the calls, so don't get discouraged if a friend has heard back and you have not. We've received calls during the early evening, and on Sundays, so the calls are not limited to business hours.
You will be notified via phone or text if your child does not get in.
What If Your Child Did Not Get In
If your child doesn't get in initially, don't fret! You can put them on the waiting list, and there's a chance they'll still get in within the first few weeks of the school year (so you'll still need to register them elsewhere, just in case). There are plenty of private preschools with Pre-K programs in the Golden Isles. The difference is that you'll have to pay for them as they're not part of Georgia's free Pre-K program.
Click here to find locations in the Golden Isles that offer Pre-K programs.
What If Your Child Will be Repeating Pre-K
Suppose your child has a late birthday, and it's recommended they repeat Pre-K before moving on to kindergarten. In that case, you can apply for the lottery again, as long as your child attended a private program during their first year of Pre-K that wasn't part of Georgia's free lottery program. You can only take advantage of the free lottery program once per child.
Pre-K Registration
If your child got into the lottery, congrats! During the call, you'll be asked to make an appointment to submit all required documents and complete/turn in the registration packet in person in Brunswick. Parents are requested to come in as early as the following week (we once got the call on a Thursday and had an appointment the following Monday).
After your call, you'll receive a text message detailing your appointment time, required documents, and location. After checking in for your appointment, you'll be directed to a room where many other parents complete their registration packets. The whole process takes about 30 minutes. Children can attend; blank paper and crayons are on the tables to keep them busy.
Note you can print the paperwork beforehand if you'd prefer (we're crossing our fingers this will all be done electronically in the future!). To access registration packets, click here. You'll still need to submit the paperwork and supporting documents in person.
Documents Required for Pre-K Registration
- Student's Certified Birth Certificate, which includes a State File Number. This is not the same document you receive from the hospital with the child's footprint. If you do not have it and your child was born in the state of Georgia, you can purchase a copy at the Glynn County Health Department. It is a quick process and costs $25 for a copy and $5 for each additional copy. Children born out of Georgia will need to request a copy from the state they were born in.
Vital Records Office, Glynn Co. Health Department:
2747 Fourth Street
Brunswick, GA 31520
- Student's Social Security Card
- Custody documents, if applicable.
- Student's Medicaid, Peach Care, or Well Care insurance cards, if applicable.
- Parent photo ID
- Proof of residency. This can be a utility bill or a lease agreement. A driver's license will not be accepted as proof of residency (we once forgot this, and they graciously let us email them a copy once we got home.)
Two medical forms are requested for registration but are not required until school begins. You should have received both forms at your child's four-year well-check appointment. If you need a copy, call your pediatrician's office:
- GA Certificate of Immunization Form 3231 – due within 30 days of the first day of school.
- GA Certificate of Vision, Hearing, Dental, and Nutrition Form 3300 – due within 90 days of the first day of school. This document expires after one year. You must bring a copy of Form 3300 that is current within the year the child enters school. For example, if you are holding your child back (meaning they are eligible for kindergarten on the first day of school), you would submit Form 3300 from their five-year well-check appointment. You will be informed of this during registration check-in.
Please let us know if we've missed anything about FACES Pre-K registration. For more information regarding schools in the Golden Isles, click here.
Good luck!
