Early Educational Opportunities in Northside Richmond

Programs for Children

• Head Start, which includes Early Head Start, is a federally sponsored learning readiness program which is administered by the Richmond Public Schools for at-risk /poverty level children and children with disabilities from birth to five years old.
  
  
• The statewide Virginia Preschool Initiative was established in Richmond in 1995 for at-risk four-year-olds to provide a quality comprehensive child development program for preschool children and families in need.
  
  
• Early Reading First (ERF) is a federal literacy program added in 2002 by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 in order to address the growing concern about children who begin kindergarten without the necessary foundation to fully benefit from formal school instruction. ERF is a nationwide effort providing funds to local literacy programs, such as The Literacy Institute at Virginia Commonwealth University, which received a $3.2 million grant from ERF.
  
  
• All New Students Will Emerge Readers (A.N.S.W.E.R.) began in the 1998-99 school year and is funded through the Virginia Early Reading Initiative. A.N.S.W.E.R. also offers services to many first grade students who did not meet the cut score on PALS.
  
  

Programs for Children, Parents and Families

• Even Start Family Literacy Program is a school-community partnership that helps break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy by integrating early childhood education, adult literacy or adult basic education, and parenting education into a unified family literacy program.
  
  
• Parent & Student Resource Center helps parents develop essential skills and abilities to enhance the growth and development of their children and is administered by the Richmond Public Schools.
  
  
• Friends Association for Children
  1004 Saint John Street
  Richmond, VA 23220
  (804) 644-2357
  www.friendsassn.org
  
  FRIENDS responds to the whole family through four programs:
  developmental child care, youth enrichment, family support services, and leadership and career developments.
  
  FRIENDS’ goal is to help people improve by providing
  
  
  • skilled training and better jobs for parents;
  • a safe, secure learning place for children ages six weeks to twelve years while parents work;
  • a program of services for children and families that inspires and builds character and pride.
  
  
  FRIENDS knows that programs need to be accessible for people to use them and therefore boasts four facilities located in Richmond communities where the challenge to succeed is great: Northside, Church Hill and Creighton Court/Gilpin Court neighborhoods and Winchester Greens in Chesterfield County.
  
  For more information, please visit FRIENDS website referenced above or call (804) 644-2357.
  
  

• Children entering kindergarten must be five years old by September 30 in the year of enrollment.
• Children must live within Richmond’s city limits.

• EHS: Children must be ages newborn to three years old by September 30 in year of enrollment with parents who are students at Adult Career Development (ACDC) or John Marshall H.S.
• Children must be three or four years old by September 30 in year of enrollment.
• Parents/guardians must meet the Federal Family Income Guidelines.
• Families of children with special needs are encouraged to apply.
• Enrollment/placement is based on space available.

• Children must be four years old by September 30 in year of enrollment.
• Children must live within Richmond’s city limits.
• Enrollment/placement is based on space available.

• Children must be two to four years old.
• Children must live within Richmond’s city limits.
• Enrollment/placement is based on space available.

1. Begin gathering all of the following documents which you will need to bring with you when you register your child:
   
   
   • Original or certified copy of your child’s birth certificate (hospital copy is not acceptable) – for more information, call local Vital Statistics/Records at 662-6207 or visit at 1601 Willow Lawn Drive, Suite 275, Richmond, VA 23230
     
     
   • Child’s Social Security Card or Waiver – for more information, call local # 771-8125 or toll free 1-800-772-1213
     
     
   • Proof of Family Income (most recent W-2 tax form, most recent check stub(s), TANF Verification, letter from Employer, or notarized letter) – NOT REQUIRED BY VIRGINIA PRESCHOOL INITIATIVE OR EVEN START PROGRAMS
     
     
   • Proof of Residence (current utility bill, mortgage or lease agreement, or notarized letter)
     
     
   • Medical and Dental Insurance cards, if you have insurance – for more information on FAMIS (family medical insurance), call Richmond Department of Social Services at 646-7212. Also see Other Resources.
     
     
   • Completed School Entrance Health Form dated within 12 months prior to school registration
     
     
   • Completed Dental Exam Form dated within 6 months prior to school registration
     
     
   • Current Immunization Records – for more information call local VA Division of Immunizations at 864-8055 or toll free 1-800-568-1929
   
   
   
2. Take your child to the doctor for the following. See Other Resources on this website.
   
   
   • a physical examination
   • a vision screening
   • a hearing test
   • a completed school entrance health form
   • updated immunizations

• a dental examination
• a completed dental examination form

• EARLY REGISTRATION FOR RPS KINDERGARTEN at the following Northside Locations:
  Carver, Ginter Park, Holton, Norrell, Overby-Sheppard and Stuart elementary schools
  
  Thursday,April 20, 2006
  9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  Richmond Public Schools citywide registration begins - children registering for kindergarten must be 5 years old by 9/30 in the year of the enrollment
  
  
• EARLY REGISTRATION FOR RPS HEAD START / EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS at the following Northside locations:
  Adult Career Development Center (ACDC) and John Marshall High School
  
  Tue. & Thu. begins March 7, 2006
  9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  
  
• EARLY REGISTRATION FOR RPS/VCU HEAD START at the following location:
  VCU Head Start, 730 East Broad Street
  
  Some Head Start classes include Early Reading First program
  Mon. & Wed. year-round
  9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  Tue. & Thu. “ 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
  
  
• EARLY REGISTRATION FOR RPS VIRGINIA PRESCHOOL INITIATIVE at the following Northside locations:
  Carver, Ginter Park, Holton, Norrell, Overby-Sheppard and Stuart elementary schools
  
  Thursdays March 16, 22, and 30
  9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. by Virginia Pre-School Initiative, 780-8585 plus April 20, 2006
  
  
• YEAR-ROUND OPEN REGISTRATION FOR RPS EVEN START at A. V. Norrell Elementary School Annex
  Mon. & Thu. Open year-round
  9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

• RPS Kindergarten: general information 780-7710; individual elementary schools – see addresses/telephone numbers in locations and times above
• RPS Head Start Office at 780-7794
• VCU Head Start at 828-8200; Early Reading First at 828-9942
• Virginia Preschool Initiative at 780-6218
• RPS Even Start at 780-4633

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