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Pre-Schools

Open Enrollment for the 2025/2026 school year is April 14 - May 1. Waitlist Applications can be picked up at the preschool, MCOE, or accessed online.

Modoc County Office of Education operates 3 preschool sites across Modoc County. Locations include Alturas, Cedarville, and Tulelake. These preschools provide early care and education for children in a fun, enriching, supportive, culturally diverse setting. Our facilities are licensed and state-regulated, and maintain high standards of quality early childhood education.

Why Our Preschools?

Our state preschool's focus is on the whole child using the California Framework and Foundations to ensure a quality experience in each classroom, every day.
We offer a developmentally appropriate curriculum to make learning fun while preparing children to enter Kindergarten!
Highly qualified teachers skilled in working with young children and focused on meeting individual learning needs.
Family-centered environments where families are recognized for the important role they play in their child's learning and development.

OUR PROGRAM

Preschool can be an important part of children's education, developing vital academic, physical, social, and emotional skills that prepare young children for school entry. Research shows that a quality preschool experience is the best preparation for later school and life success. State-funded preschool programs have high standards of safety and instruction to ensure quality early care and education for young learners.

All of our programs refrain from religious instruction and worship.

OUR GOALS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

We are passionate about serving our children and their families. We hope that you will join us in striving toward these desired results:

Children are personally and socially competent
Children are effective learners
Children show physical and motor competencies
Children are safe and healthy
Families support their children's learning and development
Families achieve their goals

HOW WE SPEND OUR DAY

Our programs are open Monday through Friday. Calendars and daily schedules differ by site.

Preschoolers will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational, creative, fun activities each day. Many of these include . . .

Storytelling, pre-reading, and pre-writing activities
Music, song, and dance
Creative art and dramatic play
Cooking and nutrition
Pre-math activities
Block building, puzzles, and science exploration
Language, listening, and communication skills development
Outdoor playtime and quiet sharing time

PARENTS AS PARTNERS IN EDUCATION

Parents are the first and most important teachers in a child's life. We encourage parent participation in the classroom, at parent meetings, and on parent advisory committees. There is an opportunity for every parent to participate and learn with the children and staff.

QUALIFIED TEACHING PROFESSIONALS

The staff at all children's centers meet rigorous screening, education, and experience qualifications. Each teacher brings an individual contribution to working with children. Staff members increase their skills and abilities to make unique and positive contributions to teaching young children.

Brittany Thomas

Director of Student Programs

bthomas@modoccoe.org

(530)233-7101 ext. 1009

Samantha Casserly

Enrollment Specialist/Clerk

scasserly@modoccoe.org

MCOE Early Childhood Development Center

809 W. 8th Street

Alturas Ca, 96101

530-233-7115

Program Information

Enrollment

There are a few steps in the enrollment process:

1. Complete an online application

2. Receive a call from Samantha Casserly, enrollment specialist, to collect the required enrollment documents

3. Receive formal documentation with an approved start date for services.

4. Attend a parent orientation meeting

Please follow the link below to access the MCOE Preschool application. Hard copies are avaiable at Modoc County Office of Education or at the MCOE Early Childhood Development Center

Preschool Waitlist Application

Eligibility

Children months and 4 years of age may be eligible for preschool if:

Children may be enrolled the day following their 3rd birthday. Children must be potty trained prior to the first day of school.

Families can discuss eligibility information and be pre-screened over the phone, by calling our Enrollment office at 530-233-7115. Families will be added to the waiting list based on the following:

Eligibility is based on either child or family eligibility.

Families must meet one of the following criteria:

The family is a current aid recipient
The family is income eligible
The family is experiencing homelessness
The child is a recipient of child protective services, or has been identified as being abused, neglected, or exploited, or at-risk of being abused, neglected or exploited
The child has a disability with an IFSP or IEP
Families are certified to receive benefits from CalWorks, Medi-Cal, CalFresh, WIC, FDPIR, Head Start, Early Head Start, or any other designated means-tested government program
The family has an income that is no more than 15 percent above the income eligibility threshold;
The family lives in a neighborhood where the school has Free or Reduce-Price Meal Program (FRPM) status

Note: Children enrolled in TK and Kindergarten may be enrolled in a part-day CSPP for Extended Learning and Care if the child or family meets one of the eligibility criteria above.

Full-Day CSPP Programs

In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria, families enrolling in a Full-Day CSPP Program must meet a need requirement.

Family Need Criteria:

A child’s family must provide documentation of need in one or more of these categories:

The child has been identified by a legal, medical, or social services agency, a local educational agency liaison for homeless children and youths, a Head Start program, or an emergency or transitional shelter as one of the following:
- A recipient of protective services.
- Being neglected, abused, or exploited, or at risk of neglect, abuse, or exploitation.
- Being homeless.
The child’s parents are one of the following:
- Engaged in vocational training leading directly to a recognized trade, paraprofession, or profession.
- Engaged in an educational program for English language learners or to attain a high school diploma or general educational development certificate.
- Employed or seeking employment.
- Seeking permanent housing for family stability.
No established need; parent request. (Please note: This is 6th enrollment priority)

Duration of Service Requirement:
Once a family establishes eligibility, they will remain eligible for 24 months.

If the eligibility period ends before the end of a program year, services will be extended until the start of kindergarten as long as the child is age-eligible. Participants whose eligibility is based on income must notify our agency within 30 days if their total countable monthly income, at any time during their certification period, exceeds the maximum income threshold for ongoing eligibility.

Part-Day CSPP: No Cost

There is no cost for our Preschool Program for those eligible to enroll. This valuable quality program is funded by the California Department of Education. Income eligibility will still be accessed.

Full-Day CSPP: No/Low Cost

Full-Day State Preschool Programs are required to assess a family fee for service. Beginning October 1, 2023 families below 75% of state-median income will not be assessed a fee and families above 75% of the state-median income will be assessed a family fee which is no more than 1% of their gross monthly income.

2023-2024-Schedule-of-Income-Ceilings.jpg

Admission Priority

Enrollment Priorities for 5% of funded enrollment:

5% of CSPP funded enrollment is reserved for Children with Exceptional Needs. To the extent possible, enroll in income ranking order. If 2 or more families have the same ranking, enroll the family with earliest application date first. For full-day programs family must also meet a need criteria.

Note: Only the child in family who has exceptional needs may be enrolled under this eligibility criteria.

Enrollment Priorities for remaining funded enrollment:

First: Child is recipient of Child Protective Services or At-Risk of being neglected, abused or exploited.

Second: Once the set-aside is filled, child with exceptional needs from income eligible family AND family meets a need criteria. Prioritize based on income ranking order.

Third: Eligible children not enrolled in Transitional Kindergarten AND family meets a need criteria.

If 2 or more children are within the same ranking prioritize dual language learners, then based on the child who has been on the waiting list for the longest time.

Fourth: Family income is not more than 15% above income threshold AND family meets a need criteria. Prioritize exceptional needs children, then 4 year olds, then 3 year olds. (limited to 10% of funded enrollment)

Fifth: Family meets eligibility criteria, but does not meet a need criteria. Prioritize based on income ranking order.

Sixth: Family resides in approved neighborhood school boundary of FRPM. Prioritize based on income ranking order.