Early Childhood

Virginia's Focus on School Readiness

 
The years before a child enters kindergarten directly impact a child’s ability to thrive in kindergarten and beyond. School Readiness means preparing all children for kindergarten by supporting birth-to-age-five programming, including the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI/Smart Start). Virginia's focus includes key classroom practices such as the use of high-quality curriculum and assessment, teacher-child interactions and individualized professional development. It also includes strengthening family engagement.

Through generous grant funding provided by the Virginia Department of Education, Amherst County Public Schools is able to provide programming for eligible four year olds.  Amherst County Public Schools also partners with Ready Region Southside and Lyn-CAG Head Start in order to provide various preschool opportunities for three and four year olds as well. Acceptance for all programs are based on eligibility and availability of slots. Additional information is provided below.

To learn more about our 2025-2026 Preschool Program opportunites, please see the information in the documents linked below.

To apply for the 2025-2026 school year, please use the links below.

 If your child is accepted, you must provide:

• A copy of your child's state birth certificate VA Birth Certificate Application
• A copy of the four page “Commonwealth of Virginia School Entrance Health Form” (MCH 213G from your doctor (which includes child’s immunization record and a well-child check)  Commonwealth of Virginia School Entrance Health Form
• Proof of County residency

If you would like to apply for the remainder of the 2024-2025 school year, please call 434-946-9341.

Contact Information

Mrs. Julianne Albert

Supervisor of Special Education and Early Childhood Programs

(434) 946-9341

 [email protected]   

Mrs. Kelsey Dolan 

Administrative Assistant

(434) 946-9386, extension9341

[email protected] 

Information and Resources:

Families can now access information about quality and safety for more than 3,000 publicly-funded early childhood sites across the Commonwealth via the Virginia Department of Education’s new easy to use online VQB5 portal.  With information on public and private early childhood sites in every city and count in Virginia, the new tool helps families learn about the quality of the sites to help them choose the best option for their birth-to-five children.  Access this link here:   VQB5 EarlyChildhood Quality

Smart Start Program Description  

Copia deSpanish Smart Start Program Description

 VDOE Early Childhood

Bright Beginnings of Central Virginia

Lyn-CAG Head Start

Center for Early Success

Virginia's Early Learning and Development Standards