Eagles Nest Pre-K Information
Apply January 15, 2025 - March 19, 2025
About ACS Eagles Nest Pre-K
Get to Know the Eagles Nest
The goal of the Athens City Schools Preschool Program is to provide quality services to young children between the ages of 3 to 5 years of age with diverse abilities. Children will be given opportunities to gain developmental skills in a structured preschool environment. Developmental skill areas will be addressed through instruction, art, physical activities, music, self-help, the use of technology, and interaction with others. A preschool curriculum is used and will include those skills that will prepare each student for Kindergarten. The preschool classes are staffed with certified teachers and instructional assistants who meet the requirements for the State of Alabama and the Athens City Schools
Program Structure
- The preschool program consists of two classes housed at iAcademy at Athens Elementary School.
- Each class will contain students with and without disabilities. The placements of students with disabilities will be made by IEP teams as appropriate to meet the needs of the student. The AES Principal and Exceptional Services Director will oversee the placements of students with disabilities into the program.
Schedule
The preschool program will adhere to the Athens City Schools academic calendar. Preschool instruction will begin at 7:45 AM and will end at 2:00 PM. Students may arrive no earlier than 7:15 AM and must be picked no later than 2:15 PM.
Enrollment Criteria
Program enrollment will be available to children ages 3 and 4. Students must be 3 by September 1, 2025 and no older than 4 before September 1, 2025 to be eligible. Students without disabilities must be toilet-trained (see toilet training policy below).
Registration
A registration period (for students without disabilities) will occur to fill class seats available. With parental consent, students without disabilities will be screened using formal assessments for the preschool program to ensure developmental appropriateness. Screenings will be completed to determine any possible concerns with hearing, vision, speech/language, and overall developmental delays. Students will be invited to participate in the screenings based on the following criteria:
- children of employees of iAcademy at Athens Elementary School will be given 1st priority
- children of employees of the Athens City School System will be given 2nd priority
- children who live in the Athens City Schools jurisdiction will been given 3rd priority
Once screenings are completed, Preschool staff and school administrators will determine the appropriateness for the Eagles Nest, and notify parents of placement. If notified that Eagles Nest is appropriate, registration will be completed by the parent/guardian. Registration will include an informational form, a copy of the child’s birth certificate, a copy of the child’s social security card (optional), proof of residence, and immunization card. A nonrefundable registration fee of $35 will be collected at the time of registration which will hold the enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year. Once slots are filled for each classroom, a waiting list will be maintained in order to fill vacancies as they occur throughout the school year. Parent/guardian can contact Athens City Schools Special Education office at (256)-233-6600 to inquire about the availability of the program.
Tuition
Tuition for the preschool program participation is $90 per school week. Tuition is due on the first business day of each week. A late charge of $25 will apply if tuition is not received after 14 days. Parents may choose and will be encouraged to pay on a monthly basis. Tuition will be collected and receipted by the Preschool Program staff or through the online portal. Accounting policies and practices set by the Athens City Schools will be implemented and followed. Your child will be dismissed from the program if weekly tuition is not received for two consecutive weeks.
Nutrition
Children will have the opportunity to participate in the Child Nutrition Program as other students in Grades K-3 at Athens Elementary. All children attending Athens Elementary School will receive breakfast at no cost, and lunch is available through the Child Nutrition Program. CNP applications for free and reduced can be found at acs-k12.org/nutrition.
Curriculum
The curriculum will be challenging and engage each student at their own level at various times during the school day. The program will address the prerequisites for Kindergarten and will be aligned with the skills included in Alabama's Standards for Early Learning and Development. Language skills will also be a primary focus of the program. Activities will be offered to make this program a language-enriched environment.
Transportation
Transportation to and from the preschool program and for extra-curricular activities will be considered for students with disabilities at no cost to the parents. Decisions regarding transportation will be addressed on the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). Transportation is not provided for students without disabilities (including to and from preschool, as well as extra-curricular activities).
Community Based Activities
Community-based activities will be a part of the program throughout the school year. We strongly encourage participation of our parents in these activities. To ensure that our preschoolers fully benefit from events outside of the school setting and to limit possible distractions, siblings of the Pre-K children do not attend these community-based activities. Violation of this may lead to possible dismissal from the preschool program.
Personnel
Personnel will be provided appropriate professional development training opportunities as deemed appropriate to meet the needs of the students who participate in the program. All personnel will be evaluated regarding their job performance annually. The Certified Teacher will participate in the Teacher evaluation program as set forth by the Alabama Department of Education and support staff will be evaluated as required by the Athens City Schools.
Online Payments
Online payment of the registration fee and Tuition is available on our district website: acs-k12.org. You will click on the “Pay Fees” button in the middle of the page which will take you to our online payment portal. After entering your child’s information, you may select “Preschool Registration Fee $35” or “Preschool Tuition- (teacher’s name)”. Please inform Eagles Nest staff if you plan to pay fees/ tuition online to ensure receipt of payment. Please note the “Preschool Registration Fee” of $35 should not be paid until the child is accepted into the Eagles Nest program.
Eagles Nest Toileting Policy (for students without disabilities)
Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all students in the preschool program maintain health, safety, and dignity while addressing their toileting needs. This policy aims to support students in their independence and personal care skills while maintaining an environment conducive to learning.
Eagles Nest Eligibility (for students without disabilities): To be eligible for enrollment in the preschool program, children must be fully toilet trained. This means they should be able to independently recognize the need to use the bathroom, manage their clothing, use the toilet, and clean themselves with minimal assistance. If a child is not fully toilet trained at the time of entry, parents or guardians will be required to work with the child to achieve this milestone before enrolling in the program.
Toilet Training Requirements
- Independence
- Children should be able to express when they need to use the toilet (either verbally or non-verbally).
- Children should be able to use the toilet independently, including pulling down pants, wiping themselves, and pulling up pants afterward.
- Accidents
- Occasional accidents may happen, especially for younger children. In such cases, staff will assist children in changing clothes in a respectful and private manner.
- Parents or guardians must provide a complete set of spare clothes (including underwear, pants, socks, and shoes) in the event of an accident. If a child has frequent accidents, parents will be contacted to discuss strategies to help the child with toilet training.
- Personal Hygiene
- Children should be able to wash their hands after using the toilet with guidance and supervision as needed.
- Staff will assist in reminding children to wash their hands but will encourage children to perform this task independently.
- Communication
- Teachers and staff will ensure that children are aware of when it is time for bathroom breaks, but children are encouraged to communicate their need to use the restroom at any time.
- Teachers will maintain a respectful and encouraging approach when reminding children about bathroom routines.
Frequent Accidents or Delays in Toilet Training If a child is unable to consistently manage toileting independently, the preschool staff will work with parents to provide support and suggestions. However, should the issue persist and the child has three or more accidents during the week, the school will request a temporary leave (two weeks) from the program until the child is able to successfully meet toileting expectations. Tuition is still due during this timeframe to hold the child’s spot in the program. If the toileting expectations are not met upon the return of the child, they may be dismissed from the program. If multiple accidents occur during one day, the school will request a temporary leave (two weeks) from the program until the child is able to successfully meet toileting expectations.
Final Note This policy is intended to support the child’s development of independence and self-care skills while ensuring that they are safe and comfortable in the preschool environment. Our goal is to work in partnership with families to create a positive and supportive experience for every child.
Questions?
Apply to ACS Eagles Nest Pre-K
STEP 1 - Complete the Eagles Nest Pre-K Application
ACS Eagles Nest Pre-K Application
STEP 2 - Complete the Eagles Nest Pre-K Forms
Other ACS PreK Options
Alabama First Class Pre-K
- Children age 4 on or before September 1, 2025
- Children must live within Athens City Limits
- Ages 4-5
- Selection is by lottery
- Registration deadline for Alabama First Class is March 19, 2025.
- For more information, contact First Class Pre-K Program Director, Jared Paschall, at 256-233-6600 ext. 6705 or jared.paschall@acs-k12.org
Enroll in ACS
- If you are registering a new Kindergarten student, please click here.
- If you are re-enrolling a current student, please click here.
- If you are enrolling for Pre-K, please click here.
- If you would like to complete a non-resident application, please click here.