‘It was a blessing’: Meck Pre-K program gears up for third year with goal to serve more kids

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mecklenburg County’s Pre-K program is gearing up for its third year and registration is now open.

For this school year, the county got hundreds of applications over the number of spots available, so the need is there and the word is out. Next school year, the goal is to serve even more kids.

The child care program is free to those who qualify and participation is based on verified family income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level and household size.

[ ALSO READ: Meck Pre-K program helps more than 1,000 kids get free daycare ]

“My wife stays home and she takes care of the kids so obviously if we’re on one income, cost is definitely a concern. We didn’t think we could afford it,” parent Travis Miller said. “He was able to get in so it was a blessing.”

Eligible children must be four on or before Aug. 31 of that year.

The County’s Early Childhood Education Plan proposes an expansion to 1,800 spots in MECK Pre-K next year. That would be part of the County’s FY 2021 budget, which is set to be adopted in June.

Watch the video above as Channel 9′s education reporter Elsa Gillis speaks with a father of a child already participating in the program and the MECK Pre-K director about the difference it is making.

For more information on the program and eligibility, click here.

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