Below you will find program start dates and updates from Durham Public Schools, the Durham County School Readiness/NCPK Committee, Durham Head Start and NC Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) for the 2020-21 school year.

Further guidance for Durham PreK is still being developed and will be shared with the community when it is available.

• Durham Public Schools' (DPS) Pre-K Classrooms:
  • Start Date: Monday, August 17th, 2020
  • Mode of Instruction: all students will attend virtually for the first nine weeks of the school year.
• Private Child Care PreK Classrooms:
  • Start Date: Tuesday, September 8th, 2020.
  • Mode of Instruction: all Private PreK programs will use a hybrid model to serve children in-person and virtually. The hybrid model will allow sites to limit the number of children in the classroom and meet all families' needs.
• Durham Head Start Classrooms:
  • Start Date: Tuesday, September 8th, 2020
  • Mode of Instruction: all students will attend virtually. In October, families can choose in-person instruction for students.

Seat offers for Durham County's Universal PreK Program began Monday, July 27, 2020, and are ongoing. Offers will continue until seats are filled.

There will be a reassessment of all PreK delivery models following the start of school, and we will continue to be in close communication with families about program changes.

Have questions about parent fees or have you had major changes in income?

If you have questions about parent fees or have had major changes in income, please email PreK.DPFC@gmail.com.

Have general questions about pre-K or questions about how to apply?

If you have any other questions please contact the PreK Information Desk at 833-773-5338 or email PreK@childcareservices.org. We welcome any questions you may have but note that we may not have all the answers immediately.

These decisions were made in alignment with the directors’ reopening capacity feedback; the parent needs survey feedback, Durham Public Schools’ re-entry plan, and Interim Child Care Reopening Guidance. The Committee understands the seriousness and gravity of the situation currently in Durham and our state. Durham PreK Partners’ number one priority is to ensure the children's and staff's health and safety.

Thank you for support and for your flexibility and resilience during these unique and challenging times. We look forward to serving Durham’s Pre-Kindergarten students.

Sincerely,

Durham PreK Partners

To view the full reopening statement as a PDF, click here.

To learn more about North Carolina's reopening guidance or health and safety requirements for childcare facilities, please visit the NC DHHS website and the NC Division of Child Development and Early Education website.