Children sought for free preschool program
A new, free preschool program in Annandale has spaces for children whose parents don’t qualify for publicly funded programs but can’t afford private preschool.
The program starts Jan. 13 at the Wedgewood Community Center, 7615 Allman Drive, at the Wedgewood Apartments. The class is limited to 10 students.
The kindergarten-readiness class is hosted by All Ages Read Together (AART), a nonprofit organization that provides free preschool targeted to ALICE (asset-limited, income-constrained, employed) families in Fairfax and Loudoun counties.
“There are no income limits. Everyone is welcome,” said AART Executive Director Michelle Sullivan.
The sessions in Annandale will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:15-2:15 p.m. They will be over by the time elementary school students show up for an after-school program at the Wedgewood Community Center run by FACETS.
Contact [email protected] for more information and enrollment instructions.
AART operates 30 preschool classes, including two in West Falls Church, at Iglesia de Santa Maria, on Arlington Boulevard, and the Wexford Manor Apartments on Hollywood Road. Other programs are located in Lorton, along the Route 1 corridor, and Loudoun County.
According to Sullivan, 94 percent of children who completed the AART programs were ready for kindergarten.
All AART classes are led by a teacher, an assistant, and a volunteer. At the Wedgewood program, both the teacher and volunteer speak Spanish.
The sessions will start next week, even if only three students show up, Sullivan said. AART will continue to accept children until the class has reached the 10-student cap.
Each child will receive 30 free books for their home libraries. The classes include math skills, science, and arts and crafts, as well as reading instruction.
AART teachers also work on building competence in social and emotional skills, Sullivan said. “This is the first opportunity these children have in being exposed to a classroom experience.”
AART was founded in 2010 in Loudoun County and relies on funding from grants and local government.
Some of the classes, including the one at Iglesia de Santa Maria, are carried out in partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools for children with mild developmental delays.
Related story: The Wedgewood Community Center offers a fun place for kids at Annandale apartments
Thank you for highlighting this important program and the work All Ages Read Together is doing to support families who fall between eligibility and affordability.
I’m Monica Jackson, owner of a licensed family child care preschool in Springfield. I appreciate efforts like this that expand access and kindergarten readiness in our community. I’d welcome the opportunity to connect as a referral or wraparound option for families needing extended hours, summer care, or continuity beyond part-day programming.
Grateful for organizations working together to meet families where they are.