What is the difference between pre-k and preschool?
Preschool typically encompasses a more broad range of ages, from 2 1/2 to 5 years. Not every preschool will include that age span, though – some may have ages 3 to 5, or only ages 4 & 5. A few may also have younger toddlers, but typically not in the same rooms as the older children. The “k” in pre-k stands for kindergarten, so it most often includes only children who are within one year of starting kindergarten. There are exceptions to that rule, though. For example, one school district in my area offers public pre-k for ages three and up. Whether a program calls itself “preschool” or “pre-k” has little to do with what children actually do there! You will find huge differences in the curriculum, program length, fees, and structure within programs calling themselves by both names – “preschool” and “pre-k”. Not all “pre-k” programs are more structured than preschool. The same thing goes for programs that call themselves “daycare”, “early learning academy”, “child development center”, and
