Mack Gaston Community Center to host pre-kindergarten registration event

Published 11:00 am Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Dalton/Whitfield County Family Connection, in partnership with local education leaders from Dalton Public Schools, Whitfield County Schools and Family Resource Agency Head Start programs, is excited to announce a community pre-kindergarten (pre-k) registration event for the upcoming school year. This event will provide parents and guardians with the opportunity to register their child for a free Georgia pre-kindergarten program in the community.

Details

• Tuesday, March 18.
Time: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: Mack Gaston Community Center, 218 N. Fredrick St. in Dalton.

• Wednesday, March 19.
Time: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Mack Gaston Community Center.

Why attend?

The pre-kindergarten registration event is designed to help families navigate the registration process in one central location. Parents who are unsure of which school district their child is zoned for can find that out on the days of the event. Attendees will have the opportunity to:

• Get help with the registration process, including required forms and documents.

• Access valuable information and resources from vendors, including representatives from WIC (Women, Infants and Children), the Northwest Georgia Family Crisis Center, the Chattanooga Food Bank, North Georgia Health District 1-2, the Latin American Association, Amerigroup, PeachCare, the Dalton-Whitfield County Public Library and more.

• Learn about other local day cares that have a Georgia pre-k program.

Who can register?

The pre-kindergarten program is open to all children who will be 4 years old by Sept. 1, 2025. This is a fantastic opportunity for parents to secure a spot for their child in a high-quality early childhood education program that fosters social, cognitive and emotional growth.

What to bring

• Birth certificate.

• Proof of residence (utility bill, lease agreement in parent’s name with service address).

• Social Security card.

• Immunization records (Georgia Form 3231).

• Eye, Ear and Dental Certificate (Georgia Form 3300).

• One parent/legal guardian identification.

• Medicaid/PeachCare card (if applicable).

Additional information

Placement in pre-kindergarten at both Dalton Public Schools and Whitfield County Schools is determined by a lottery system, not a first-come, first-served basis. If you provide the required documents, your child will be entered into the lottery, and you will be informed in April regarding acceptance from staff at Dalton Public Schools or Whitfield County Schools. Head Start programs have income-based qualifications. Head Start will contact parents in late June or July regarding acceptance to Head Start programs.

“We are thrilled to provide an opportunity for families in our community to register their children and introduce them to the exciting world of early childhood education,” said Malisa Pedro, family connection coordinator with Dalton/Whitfield County Family Connection. “Pre-k programs are designed to nurture and prepare children for success, and we look forward to welcoming the next generation of learners.”

For more information, please contact the enrollment offices: Dalton Public Schools, (706) 876-4000; Whitfield County Schools, (706) 876-3955; and Family Resource Agency pre-k, (706) 278-8202.