LAPS News:

Los Alamos parents with children who are four years old on or before Aug. 31, 2020 may apply for a half-day New Mexico Preschool Program for the 2020-21 school year.

Los Alamos Public Schools has a NM PreK program at Piñon Elementary School.

There is a maximum enrollment based on available funding so applications will be entered into a lottery for acceptance into the program. The lottery opens at 8 a.m., April 1 and will be accessible at laschools.net. There is no cost to parents or students selected to attend, and transportation is available to those residing within the school zone.

The District preschool programs are half-day programs, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, and are in session for three hours per day on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesdays will be used for staff training, planning, and parent meetings.

The District also has an opportunity to apply for additional NM PreK programs. At this point, we do not know how many spots will be funded by the state. If additional spots are funded, they will be located at schools in the townsite.

Essential steps in the funding process:

• Step 1: The New Mexico Legislature will need to appropriate additional funds for New Mexico Preschool programs. The Legislative Session ends Thursday, Feb. 20, and the Governor has until March 11 to sign or veto legislation passed in the last three days of the session.
• Step 2: After the Los Alamos Public Schools staff seek input from the community, they will submit an application for additional PreK funding. Depending upon parental input and state guidelines, our application may be for Barranca, Aspen and/or Mountain Elementary Schools. We do not know how quickly the state will be reviewing and approving the application for Los Alamos Public Schools.
• Step 3: If the LAPS application is approved, we will identify classroom space, order materials and recruit high-quality licensed early childhood teachers.

LAPS staff are hopeful and planning ahead; thus, the PreK lottery application process will open April 1 through the district website. All interested parents of eligible children who live in Los Alamos County are encouraged to apply. Parents will be notified in June if they are selected for placement in one of the PreK programs.

Direct questions to Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Guy at 505.663.2228 or j.guy@laschools.net.