- Roanoke City Public Schools
- Preschool Application Process
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Preschool Application Process
RCPS accepts applications for students who are or will be 3 or 4 years old on or before September 30th of the current school year. Acceptance to the VPI program depends on residency and eligibility criteria. The initial application review is February 1 to April 15 for the following school year. Applications are accepted year-round and eligible students may be selected off the wait list as spots become available. Acceptance into the program is not first-come, first-serve.
View the information below to learn more about the preschool application process:
Phase One
- Families apply for preschool using the Smart2Start Application
- Based on the family's income, applications may be sent to TAP Head Start. TAP will contact families accordingly. If the family requests, the application can be sent to RCPS.
- To be eligible for the RCPS VPI program, families must reside in Roanoke City and meet at least one of the following eligibility criteria:
- Family income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level
- Family is experiencing homelessness
- One or both of the student's parents did not graduate from high school
- Student qualifies for Special Education services
- Local eligibility criteria
Phase Two
- Families will be contacted by the RCPS Preschool Department to schedule a screener. At the appointment, additional family information will be collected, and the student will completed the Ages & Stages Questionaire, Third Edition (ASQ-3).
- All families are required to submit proof of income. If proof of income is not provided, no additional enrollment steps will be completed. Acceptable documents include:
- W-2 form
- SNAP verification
- Child support
- Tax forms
- TANF verification
- Social security
- Paystubs (salary)
- Written statement from employer
- SSI verification
- Benefits/unemployment/other
Phase Three
Based on eligibility criteria, receipt of income verification, and availability, the student will be placed in a preschool classroom. The family will be notified by the Preschool Department of their child's placement and next steps.