Graves Preschool Registration Takes Place in Mar.

Registrations for all Graves County preschools will be held at Gateway Academy, located in the former Health Department building, 100 E. Lockridge St., Mayfield. In order to attend pre-school, a child must be either three or four years of age on or before Oct. 1, 2012. Please phone the Graves County Head Start Office at 270-674-4905 or 328-4905 to pre-schedule an appointment time. The child is not required to accompany the parent to that appointment.

Applications also will be accepted for Early Head Start. It is designed to serve women who are currently pregnant and children aged from birth to three years old and who meet federal income guidelines. Transportation is not provided for the Early Head Start Program.

Important to note is the fact that a parent will not be allowed to register without proof of all family income or signing a statement that the parent knows the family is over-income and does not wish to be considered for income eligibility. If there is no family income, a statement from another adult who provides the family with support such as shelter, food, etc., is required.

Proof of income can include last year’s W-2 or income tax form that shows gross income; pay stubs with the year-end total from 2011; a letter from an employer stating the parent’s gross income; a KTAP award letter from DCBS; an unemployment compensation letter; child support– court-ordered documents or letter from the Office of Child Support or notarized letter from the absent parent with the amount of child support paid; a Social Security, disability or SSI award letter.

Please bring the following items: certified birth certificate and Social Security number of child and insurance card or child’s medical card.

Proof of custody, if applicable, is required. If the child is in foster care, please bring court documents or a letter from the child’s caseworker.

The Graves County School District, in cooperation with Murray Head Start, will offer preschool programs for three- and four-year-old children in all elementary schools for the 2012-13 school year.

Eligibility requirements include: programs for four-year-olds: the child must be age four by Oct. 1 and must meet eligibility for free lunches.

Special needs services: must be age three or four during the school year, regardless of income and must meet the state guidelines for developmental delay or disability.

Head Start services: Must be age three or four by Oct. 1 and must meet federal income guidelines along with other family factors.

Preschool tuition program: If child is not eligible based on income or disability, tuition slots will be offered, based on space available at the specific school in question.

Preschool tuition is $400 per semester and transportation is not provided. Preschool programs are half-day, either morning or afternoon, and children are served either breakfast or lunch. Transportation is provided for all eligible children by the Graves County School District.

To learn more or to schedule an appointment, please phone the Graves County Preschool/Head Start Office at 270-674-4905 or 328-4905.

All children can learn, but some learn differently. Some children need more help than others because they have a disability. Graves County Schools can provide special programs for students with disabilities. Services such as special education, speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and special transportation are available to students needing these services.

To learn more about helping a child age three to 21 who might have a disability and need special education services, contact Judy Self, director of special education, Graves County Schools, at 270-328-1549 or 674-1549.