Preschool (Pre-K)

The NTPS preschool program is primarily for students who have special education needs (they have been assessed or have an active IEP) with a few classroom spots reserved for typically-developing children who join preschool as learning peers (called Integrated Preschool).

NTPS preschool classes are held at early learning centers located at four NTPS elementary schools. Visit the links below to visit that school's early learning center page:

Preschool News

2024-25 Integrated Preschool applications are open

Special Education Preschool

NTPS Preschools are designed for children with special education needs to play and learn with some typically-developing peers. Our Special Education Preschool students are identified through early intervention screenings and Child Find evaluations referred by caregivers or healthcare providers.

Do you think your child may need special education preschool services? Please see our Child Find page for information on our early intervention screening and evaluation services for ages birth through five. The type of evaluation and available services are age-dependent.

Once identified as needing special education services, families must complete student registration for their child, and they will be placed in one of our preschool classes. Student registration for Special Education Preschool uses paper forms - please follow the instructions below.

Special Education Preschool Registration Steps

Use the Thurston County Parcel Search tool to locate your home school. Search by your home address.

Parcel Search Tool

Complete a registration packet

Collect your required documents and bring those in addition to the completed packet to your school office.

There are five required documents.

1. Student name & age verification

NTPS will accept a variety of documents for this purpose, including:

Birth Certificate (order copies from the state if lost)
Valid Passport
Driver's License
Adoption Record
Previously Verified School Record
Affidavit from Parent

2. Documentation of legal name change

This is only required if the above document has a different name.

3. Medically Verified Immunization Records

This is required by Washington State) and includes documents such as:

A completed Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS) signed by a healthcare provider;
A CIS filled out by you or another parent/guardian with medical records attached;
A CIS printed by a health care provider or school from the Washington State Immunization Information System; OR
A CIS printed from MyIR (a free Dept of Health online tool), go to myirmobile.com to begin the signup process.

The CIS forms require a guardian's signature, so be sure to sign the document before you scan it for upload or bring it to the school office.

4. Proof of residency

One (1) of the following documents:

Current lease
Recent contract of sale
Recent Mortgage statement
Recent Utility Bill

5. Protection or Restraining Order Involving Student

This is required only if your student is named in a Protection or Restraining Order.

* Optional documents that are helpful, but not required:

Academic records (report cards or transcripts if secondary grades)
Copy of Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Evaluation Report (ER) if applicable
Copy of 504 if applicable

Integrated Preschool

Integrated Preschool students are students who don't need special education services (typically-developing). These tuition-based spots in our special education preschool program are a unique opportunity for young learners to thrive alongside our students with disabilities to play, learn, and grow together. This program is available to children ages three to four. Students must turn 3 by August 31.

If your child turns five years old on or before August 31, they are age-appropriate for Kindergarten and will not be eligible for Integrated Preschool. See information about kindergarten.

Preschool is offered half-day for an AM (9:20–11:50 am) or PM (1:10–3:40 pm) session:

2-day-a-week program (Monday/Thursday or Tuesday/Friday) for 2.5 hours each day. Tuition: $165 per month.
4-day-a-week program (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday). Tuition: $280 per month.

There is a 10% discount if tuition is paid for the entire school year at once (discount only available in September). Tuition will not be prorated because of illness, vacations, holidays, conferences, weather, etc. No tuition is charged for the month of June to account for these non-school days. All preschool students will follow state immunization guidelines.

Reduced-rate tuition is available for households with a qualifying Child Nutrition Application on file. Applications must be current (2024–25 applications open in August in Skyward Family Access) and the consent-to-share form must accompany your completed application. Reduced rate tuition: $75/month. Learn more information about the Child Nutrition Application.

Application Steps

Fill out the Integrated Preschool Application.
Applications are processed in the order they are received. You'll receive an email with information and instructions on how to officially register your child in North Thurston Public Schools.
Once official enrollment in complete, pay tuition (pay in full or set up a payment plan), and look forward to more communication from your early learning center in the fall!

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