Preschool Application Process
Botetourt County Public Schools accepts applications for students who are or will be 3 or 4 years old on or before September 30th of the current school year. Acceptance to the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) program depends on residency and eligibility criteria, and is not on a first-come, first-served basis. All applications will be reviewed for eligibility after March 29th.
Every year a family must re-apply to the preschool program.
View the information below to learn more about the preschool application process:
Phase One
Families apply for preschool using the Smart2Start Application
To be eligible for the BCPS VPI program, families must reside in Botetourt County and meet at least one of the following eligibility criteria:
- Family income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level
- Family is experiencing homelessness
- One or both of the student's parents did not graduate from high school
- Student qualifies for Special Education services
- Local eligibility criteria
Phase Two
Families will be contacted by the BCPS Preschool Department to schedule a screener. At the appointment, additional family information will be collected.
All families are required to submit proof of income. If proof of income is not provided, no additional enrollment steps will be completed. Acceptable documents include:
- W-2 form
- SNAP verification
- Child support
- Tax forms
- TANF verification
- Social security
- Paystubs (salary)
- Written statement from employer
- SSI verification
- Benefits/unemployment/other
Phase Three
Based on eligibility criteria, receipt of income verification, and availability, the student will be placed in a preschool classroom. The family will be notified by the Preschool Department of their child's placement and next steps.
For more information about the Preschool program at Botetourt County Public Schools, please contact:
Melissa Caldwell
Preschool Coordinator
[email protected]
(540) 473-8263 ext. 218