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Universal Prekindergarten Program

UPK FAQs

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    When does registration close?

    There is no deadline for registration; if a family arrives after the start of the school year and their child is eligible for pre-kindergarten, they can enroll.  

    Are students required to participate in family-style meals? Can I choose to pack my child’s lunch?

    Family-style dining is a requirement of the prekindergarten program and is part of the prekindergarten curriculum. It is a meal service which allows children to serve themselves and make choices in food selection and serving sizes. Family-style dining is a best practice and is encouraged by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) because it helps establish healthy lifelong habits and attitudes towards food. Students derive great benefits from participation in family-style dining. Family-style dining promotes growth of social, emotional, language, and motor skills, executive functioning, and an understanding of health and nutrition. All children eat the same foods and enjoy pleasant conversation. Meals and snacks sent from home are not permitted.

    How do I apply for the Free and Reduced Meals (FARM) program?

    The application process for the FARM program varies across DoDEA, as the providers for the School Meals Program (SMP) are location based. Please visit your child’s school web page for more information on applying for the FARM’s program.

    Will there be designated buses for only UPK students? I’m not comfortable with my child sharing the same bus as middle/high school students.

    There will not be designated buses for UPK students. UPK students may ride the bus with DoDEA students of other grade levels. At some locations, UPK students may share a bus with middle and/or high school students. There will be a bus attendant on every school bus with UPK students present. School bus transportation is not a requirement; parents may elect to transport their child to school.   

    As family-style meals are mandatory for UPK, am I required to have a school meal account for my child through the SMP provider?

    Yes, all parents will need to establish an account with their school’s SMP provider after registering their child for UPK through DSIS, DoDEA’s online registration system. SMP providers vary by location. Please visit the links provided below for more information on creating a student meal account:

    How do I apply for the Free and Reduced Meals (FARM) program?

    The application process for the FARM program varies across the Pacific, as the providers for the School Meals Program (SMP) are based on location. Please visit the links provided below for more information and to apply:

    Will my child be required to use a car seat on the bus?

    Car seats are not required on school buses in Japan or Guam. In Korea, all UPK students using DoDEA transportation services will be seated in a car seat to ensure compliance with Host Nation law, which mandates children weigh at least 45 pounds before a car seat is no longer required. Should a UPK student be too large for the car seat, it will not be used. 

    What safety measures are in place to ensure UPK students are not left unattended at the bus stop if a parent is running late and not present?

    A parent/guardian is required to be present at the bus stop for pickup and drop-off of all students in UPK. As an additional security measure, the parent/guardian must provide proof of authorization to collect their UPK student at afternoon drop off (this varies by installation and may be a PIN or other authorization method). If a parent/guardian is not present, the bus will continue the route and contact the parent with an alternate drop-off location. If the parent is unable to collect the student from the alternate drop-off location, the student will be brought back to the school.

    Will the Sure Start program still exist?

    As we expand prekindergarten through phases, we will be transitioning away from the Sure Start program. We ask parents and guardians to register their students via the DoDEA Student Information System (DSIS) portal system rather than through the Sure Start application when prekindergarten is available in their community. If you have questions with registration process, please contact the school registrar.  Schools not in the current phase offering universal prekindergarten will continue with offering Sure Start.

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