- DoDEA
- Education
- Universal Prekindergarten
- UPK FAQs
UPK FAQs
- Will the Sure Start program still exist?
- What are the qualifications for DoDEA prekindergarten teachers?
- What schools will be in phase 2 in school year 2025-2026?
- What schools will be in Phase 3?
- We are a dual-working family. Is transportation available for before and after school care at the CDC/SAC?
- As family-style meals are mandatory for UPK, am I required to have a school meal account for my child through the SMP provider?
- How do I apply for the Free and Reduced Meals (FARM) program?
- How is UPK different from daycare?
- What are the eligibility requirements for DoDEA’s Universal Prekindergarten program?
- Do I have to enroll my child in UPK for them to be able to start Kindergarten at age 5? 
- Is it possible to enroll in UPK part-time?  
- Some overseas locations offer Host Nation preschool programs that end before the DoDEA school year. If I send my child to a Host Nation preschool, can I enroll my child in DoDEA UPK after the Host Nation preschool year ends? 
- What is the teacher/student ratio for UPK?  
- What curriculum has DoDEA adopted for UPK? 
- What will students learn in prekindergarten?  
- Will UPK students receive art, music, and physical education?  
- What does a UPK classroom look like?  
- Will UPK students take a daily nap? 
- My child has food allergies. Can I pack their lunch?
- If our family is not approved for the FARM program, or we are approved for meals at the reduced rate, what will the daily rate for meals be for UPK students?
As we expand prekindergarten through phases, we will be transitioning away from the Sure Start program. We ask parents and guardians to register their students via the DoDEA Student Information System (DSIS) portal system rather than through the Sure Start application when prekindergarten is available in their community. If you have questions with registration process, please contact the school registrar. Schools not in the current phase offering universal prekindergarten will continue with offering Sure Start.
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.
Andre Lucas ES, Barsanti ES, Barkley ES, Marshall ES, Ramstein ES, and Kleine Brogel ES. Please see updated UPK phases.
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.
Yes, all parents will need to establish an account with their school’s SMP provider after registering their child for UPK through DSIS, DoDEA’s online registration system. SMP providers vary by location. Please visit the links provided below for more information on creating a student meal account:
UPK uses a comprehensive curriculum aligned to DoDEA's College and Career Ready Standards. Each classroom has a teacher certified in early childhood education and an educational aide to support all students' needs.
All children who meet DoDEA eligibility requirements and turn four years old on or before Sept. 1, 2024, are eligible to register for UPK. Parents will need to complete the online registration process though the DoDEA Student Information System (DSIS). Registration will open this spring. To learn more about enrolling your student, visit dodea.edu/registration. 
No; DoDEA UPK is an optional educational program for eligible military-connected students. Participation in UPK is not a requirement for kindergarten.
DoDEA UPK is a full-day program. Part-time enrollment is not available.  
Yes, if your child meets the eligibility requirements for UPK and the host nation program has ended, your child is eligible to enroll in UPK for the rest of the school year. However, we cannot accommodate students enrolling in UPK 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.
The student/teacher ratio for UPK is 18:1. Every UPK classroom has a full-time, certified early childhood educator and a full-time educational aide working alongside the classroom teacher to support students. 
DoDEA 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. 
DoDEA follows the College and Career Ready Standards for Preschool in their teaching and learning plans, addressing the whole child with developmentally appropriate practices. Prekindergarten programs implement a comprehensive curriculum promoting child development and learning in the developmental domains and content areas. Children engage in studies that foster curiosity, perseverance, and a desire to learn, preparing students for success in a dynamic world.
At the end of the year, students will have a keen sense of who they are, strategies to get along and share with others, basic knowledge of safe ways to explore their world, and academic skills putting them in a good place entering kindergarten.  
Art, music, and physical education are embedded throughout the day in the prekindergarten classroom. The UPK curriculum addresses the needs of the whole child.
Our UPK classrooms are designed with our youngest learners in mind. Every UPK classroom has a welcoming space with area rug and an Interactive Flat Panel (IPF) device for large-group roundups, inviting areas for investigations and explorations with blocks, art, sand and water, dramatic play, library, and many, curiosity-provoking materials to capture children’s imagination. There are also age-appropriate outdoor spaces to support children’s physical development and playful learning experiences.
Students will have a rest period during the day because rest plays a crucial role in enhancing children’s memory and boosts learning. They are encouraged, but not required, to sleep. Children who do not sleep can be given book boxes or a few quiet toys.
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.
The FARM program reduced fee rate is set by the USDA. Currently, USDA has not yet published meal rates for the 2024-25 school year. For informational purposes, the 2023-24 lunch meal rates for grades PK-5 are as follows:
- Full price: $3.50
- Reduced price: $.40
