Special Notice: 

The Demonstration Preschool (DPS) Application is available NOW! The DPS Admissions Process for the 25-26 School Year has begun.  The DPS Application 25-26 is available to download in English or in Spanish. Visit the Parent Teacher Resource Center to pick up a paper application. Applications will be accepted through February 14, 2025. Please note that children must be four years of age on or before August 31, 2025 to be eligible to apply to this program. For questions or to reserve a tour, call our main number at 919.856.7774.

Two innovative Pre-K classrooms are located at Project Enlightenment. The use of research-based best practices in early childhood education makes either of them an excellent Pre-K experience for young four-year-old children that are not kindergarten eligible.

CURRICULUM: Each classroom emphasizes that children “learn by doing" and use the Creative Curriculum in conjunction with NC Early Learning Standards.

CENTER-BASED: The classrooms are organized into centers, such as: the block center, dramatic play, art center, music, a discovery/science center and a literacy center.

DAILY SCHEDULE: The schedule typically includes a morning meeting to begin the day, center play time, small group activities, clean-up, mealtimes and  outdoor play time. Special weekly activities include a social skills lesson and storytime/ book checkout in the PTRC library. 

CLASSROOMS:

• The Demonstration Preschool (DPS) Classroom is an inclusive classroom for four-year-olds. There is an emphasis on social-emotional growth and learning using developmentally appropriate methods. Children get to experience what it means to be a part of a connected, loving, and caring classroom community. 

• The Blended Classroom (BC) is a full-day classroom serving students funded by Title 1, NC Pre-K and WCPSS Preschool Special Education Services. It emphasizes research-based early literacy practices. Students are assigned to this classroom by the Wake County Public School System. For an application for this program, visit www.wakesmartstart.org/families/wake-pre-k-overview/apply/ call Smart Start at 919-851-9550 and ask for a Wake Pre-K Application. This application is not specific to Project Enlightenment but is a universal application for all Title I and NC Pre-K classrooms.

GUIDED OBSERVATION CLASSROOMS- What does this mean?  Both classrooms at Project Enlightenment are "Guided Observation" sites. Guided Observations are designed for teachers of three- to five-year-olds and also offered to parents of children enrolled in the classrooms. Participants, with a facilitator, observe developmentally appropriate best practices in one of the two inclusive Pre-K classrooms. Some of the "best practices" participants might observe are: building a caring classroom community, social-emotional skill development, positive guidance strategies, literacy-rich environments, and respectful teacher/child interactions.