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- Prekindergarten
- PK FAQs
PK FAQs
At the elementary school level, the school walking zone comprises all residences within one mile of the school. All installation community supervision guidelines must be followed.
Family-style dining is a requirement of the prekindergarten program and is part of the prekindergarten curriculum. It is a meal service which allows children to serve themselves and make choices in food selection and serving sizes. Family-style dining is a best practice and is encouraged by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) because it helps establish healthy lifelong habits and attitudes towards food. Students derive great benefits from participation in family-style dining. Family-style dining promotes growth of language, and motor skills, executive functioning, and an understanding of health and nutrition. All children eat the same foods and enjoy pleasant conversation. Meals and snacks sent from home are not permitted.
The application process for the FARM program varies across the Pacific, as the providers for the School Meals Program (SMP) are based on location. Please visit the links provided below for more information and to apply:
- AAFES (Korea, Misawa, Okinawa, Yokota, Zama) https://www.aafes.com/about-exchange/school-lunch-program/
- MCCS (Iwakuni) https://mccsiwakuni.goodbarber.app/blog-test/c/0/i/64519441/school-meal-program-mypaymentsplus
- NEX (Atsugi, Guam, Sasebo, Yokosuka) https://www.mynavyexchange.com/studentmealprogram/
In the Pacific Region (Guam, Korea, mainland Japan and Okinawa), Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) facilities will provide transportation services for students enrolled in the before and after school program at installations where the CDC/SAC is not a walkable distance from the school. For more information about before and after school programming, please contact the CDC/SAC.
In Phase III we have Parker Elementary, Wiesbaden Elementary, Aukamm Elementary and Ansbach Elementary.
In the Europe Region, transportation services for students enrolled in the before and after school program at installations where the CDC/SAC is not a walkable distance from the school will be provided. For more information about before and after school programming, please contact the CDC/SAC.
Meal accommodations (e.g., allergies, dietary restrictions) are handled on a case-by-case basis, following DoD Directive 1015.5, DoD Student Meal Program, and local administrative decisions.
All children who meet DoWEA eligibility requirements and turn four years old on or before September 1 are eligible to register for PK. Parents will need to complete the online registration process though the DoWEA Student Information System (DSIS). Registration will open this spring. To learn more about enrolling your student, visit dodea.edu/registration. 
Yes, if your child meets the eligibility requirements for PK and the host nation program has ended, your child is eligible to enroll in PK for the rest of the school year. However, we cannot accommodate students enrolling in PK during Host Nation preschool program break periods when there is an intent to disenroll at the conclusion of the break period to continue in the Host Nation preschool program.
DoWEA has selected The Creative Curriculum for Preschool, which supports student learning through age-appropriate, play-based curriculum and instruction that focuses on the whole child. 
All DoWEA schools participate in the accreditation process for their respective districts. DoWEA schools are accredited by Cognia, a national accreditation agency.
A bachelor’s degree with a major in early childhood education or a degree in elementary education with 24 semester hours in early childhood education is required. Two years of full-time experience teaching prekindergarten or kindergarten may be substituted for 3 semester hours of the required early childhood education coursework.
There is no deadline for registration; if a family arrives after the start of the school year and their child is eligible for prekindergarten, they can enroll.
A: Students cannot be denied enrollment in prekindergarten regardless of toilet learning status. Parents should send a complete change of clothes to school, to be prepared in case of an accident.
All eligible four-year-olds will participate in the PK program in the least restrictive environment and will receive services according to their individualized education plan.
Consistent with K-5 practices, special education services for UPK students will be based upon the individual needs of each student in the least restrictive learning environment.
A parent/guardian is required to be present at the bus stop for pickup and drop-off of all students in PK. As an additional security measure, the parent/guardian must provide proof of authorization to collect their PK student at afternoon drop off (this varies by installation and may be a PIN or other authorization method). If a parent/guardian is not present, the bus will continue the route and contact the parent with an alternate drop-off location. If the parent is unable to collect the student from the alternate drop-off location, the student will be brought back to the school.
Andre Lucas ES, Barsanti ES, Barkley ES, Marshall ES, Ramstein ES, and Kleine Brogel ES. Please see updated PK phases.
Prekindergarten is a full-day preschool program. PK students will begin and end their school day on their school’s bell schedule. School bell schedules vary by location; please visit your school’s website for more information.
