Attendance: State of Tennessee Voluntary PreK Policy

The TNVPK Program is a voluntary program, funded by the State Department of Education. Parents may withdraw their child at any time. However, if you accept enrollment in the program, attendance is expected. According to state guidelines, full-time enrollment is required for entry into the program and excessive unexcused absences or tardies could result in parent conferences and potential dismissal from the program.

Your child’s growth and development is best supported through consistent participation in class. Additionally, establishing with your child a pattern of consistent attendance at school will support them in developing strong school habits. Therefore, our district has adopted the following PreK attendance policy in accordance with the guidance from the Tennessee Department of Education:

Excused Absences

The following are examples of acceptable reasons for excused absences:

• The child has a personal illness or injury;
•  The child has other ongoing health-related ailments which temporarily prevent attendance;
• The child contracts a communicable disease (virus or flu);
• Religious observances;
• Death in the family;
• Limited medical/dental/therapy appointments (these should be made outside school hours unless necessary);
• Other reasons as approved by the site-level administrator.

Required Procedures

• Communicate with your child’s teacher when your child is absent.
•  Submit appropriate documentation to excuse the absence to the school office.
•  If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s attendance, please contact the front office at your child’s school.
• If you anticipate an ongoing attendance issue, please notify your child’s teacher.

Procedures for Absenteeism

• If a child has four (4) or more unexcused absences within a 1 month period of time, the building-level administrator (or their designee) will contact the parents/guardians to determine the child’s participation status. These contacts or attempts to contact will be documented and submitted to the PreK Social Worker.
• If a child has five (5) or more unexcused absences in a three (3)-month period, the PreK social worker will contact the family to develop an attendance plan.
  • The attendance plan should be designed to help the family establish regular attendance or, if necessary, to plan for alternative services. The attendance plan should be developed by the family and appropriate school personnel, including, but not limited to: the child’s primary pre-k teacher; the site-level administrator; the IEP team (if applicable); and additional staff serving the school and family, which may include a counselor, social worker, family support personnel, teacher assistant, or other school staff supporting the child and family. The attendance plan should:
    • Identify the reasons for the unexcused absences;
    • Include a specific plan and date for establishing regular attendance or alternative services that meet the child’s educational goals; and
    • Include documentation of services and student outcomes to determine effectiveness of the attendance plan.

Removal From Program Due to Absences

Every effort will be made to ensure your child has access to a quality school program. However, these spots are made available through a state grant and are limited by funding. Students who have more than five (5) unexcused absences per month, or ten (10) unexcused absences in a year, may be terminated from the program for failure to follow the district pre-k attendance policy.

Re-entry Following Removal Due to Absences

When a child is dismissed from the program, a waiting list applicant who meets eligibility determinations for the VPK program may fill the vacant position. Future eligibility for the terminated child to re-enter the program will depend upon vacancies. The student will also be required to adhere to a 30-day waiting period and a parent conference to establish an attendance agreement. The parent/guardian will be required to fulfill the terms of the attendance agreement, or their student may be dismissed from the program.

*The only document that is required for this application is Proof of Income. You will receive an email to let you know if your child has been selected for a seat, then you will include other documentation with online school registration.

Spanish Information

*El único documento que se requiere para esta solicitud es un comprobante de ingresos. Recibirá un correo electrónico para informarle si su hijo ha sido seleccionado para un lugar. Luego, deberá incluir otra documentación con la inscripción escolar en línea.

What is the Voluntary PreK program?

 The Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program (VPK) is a state-funded readiness program for at-risk children who are 4 years of age on August 15th. At-risk is defined by the state as being economically disadvantaged.

Due to limited funding, we can only offer a designated number of seats in Hamilton County. Per the terms of the grant which funds VPK, this program is targeted to low income families.

Who may apply for the Voluntary PreK class?

Parents/Guardians of children who are 4 years of age by August 15, whose household is located in Hamilton County.

Why is this program limited by income eligibility?

The VPK program is funded through a state grant which is designed to meet the needs of low income families.

What if I choose to wait and start my child in Kindergarten at the age of 6? Would he/she be able to attend the Voluntary PreK class at age 5?

No, the Voluntary PreK program is only available for children who are 4 years of age by August 15, 2025. This age limitation is stipulated by the state grant which funds our Voluntary PreK program.

Why do I have to complete two applications to be considered for the VPK/Head Start Collaborative classes?

Head Start income eligibility criteria are more restrictive than the VPK criteria. Their application ensures that families meet their eligibility requirements. The HCS application makes sure that Hamilton County Schools has your contact information to ensure that you get important information/communications prior to the start of school.

What if I need help with my application?

Families in need of in person support have two options:

• The Family Connection Center
• The International Welcome Center

Do I have to pay tuition for my child to attend the HCS Voluntary PreK program?

The VPK program is a grant-funded program and there is not a cost for enrollment.

Does my child have to pass a screening or test to be accepted into the VPK classroom?

No, there is not an academic screening or test to determine eligibility for enrollment in a VPK classroom.

Is transportation provided for PreK students?

Transportation is not currently available for PreK students. Families choosing to participate in the Voluntary PreK class will need to arrange transportation for their child.

What is the PreK calendar?

PreK classes begin the year in a phase-in. During phase-in, students come in smaller groups, which allows the teacher to get to know the students and their learning needs. It also helps children feel more comfortable in the classroom.

Following phase-in, all PreK classes will operate on the same schedule as Hamilton County Schools. We also follow the rest of the district for inclement weather days, delays, or early dismissals. To view the HCS Calendar, click here.

What happens if I am placed on a waiting list?

If you are placed on a waiting list, you will be contacted to determine your interest in open seats at other sites. You can then choose an open and available seat, or choose to remain on the waiting list. In the event that there are no other available seats, you will remain on the waiting list.

If you are on a waiting list, you are advised NOT to give up your current childcare.

Does every elementary school have a PreK class?

No, the grant which funds VPK does not provide enough funding for a PreK class in every elementary school in our county.

How many children and staff are in each classroom?

VPK classes will enroll up to 20 students. A certified teacher and a teaching assistant will be assigned to each class.

What does a PreK class look like?

In a VPK class, you will find up to 20 children in a play-based classroom environment involved in active, hands-on learning. Teachers plan and deliver high-quality instructional lessons and activities based on the TN Early Learning Developmental Standards for children. You will see work on foundational skills critical for success in Kindergarten, including letter sounds and identification, counting, number recognition, colors, shapes, fine motor development, and social skills/personal competencies.

Since this is PreK, does my child need to attend every day?

Yes, all children enrolled in a VPK class need to attend each day. Attendance is very important for a successful year of learning. Your child is expected to attend every day and on time, unless he/she has a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher, vomiting, or showing other signs of contagious illness (following the HCS guidelines).