What is the difference between preschool and prek?

Answer 1

PreK is usually affiliated with an elementary school and has a curriculum conducive to begin kindergarden.

Answer 2

This is weird 'cuz I just answered this exact question on a parenting site!

Most people think of preschool as being more of a play-based program and it might include classes for kids from ages 2-4. When people hear pre-K they think of a program for 4-5 yr olds, often stressing preparation for kindergarten and thus being more academic than a typical preschool setting. Sometimes a preschool program focuses more on exposure to academic concepts while a preK may focus more on mastery of the same concepts.

The reality is that many programs use the terms interchangeably. Some preschool programs are very academic and some pre-Ks stress play and socialization for children who are not quite ready for a structured school setting. In some states, pre-K is actually a program affiliated with the public school system and focuses on kindergarten readiness. Depending on your school district that might mean learning shapes and colors or it could mean reading and writing simple words by the end of the pre-K year.

The only way to know for sure is to talk to the director of the program. Ask what their philosophy is, as well as what kind of curriculum they have and what their goals are for the children over the course of the year. Ask how much time is invovled in seat work vs. free play and how much free choice the child has during daily activities (IOW do they all have to participate in every activity or can they choose those activities that most interest them?)

You should be able to get a pretty good grasp of whether you are looking at a play-based program or an academic program based on their answers. One is not necessarily better than the other... it depends on your child's needs. Most preschool programs will have some academic component even if they are play-oriented. I haven't known any 4's teachers who don't work on basic letter & number recognition as well as self-help skills (buttoning, handwashing, address & phone #, calendar, etc) even if their program was advertised as a play-based program.

Answer 3

PreK is in a public elementary school and working towards the school districts curriculum and kindergartens goals. Preschool does work towards the goals of the children going to kindergarten. The major differences is that the prek has to follow the school districts and state mandates. Preschools are privately run so they don't all follow the same guidelines and some can be mostly play to all the way to highly academic. You just have to look and see how they are run. You have to investigate to see if the preschool has what you want to get your child ready for school. Pre k will be mandated to prepare your child for the districts kindergarten.

Answer 4

Sometimes the terms are used interchangeably, but generally they are used as such:
Preschool: from toddler to 4 years; focus is on play and socialization skills, as well as SOME pre-writing and pre-academic skills.
Pre-K: from 4- 6 years; generally means that a more "academic" focus is going on... preparing children for kindergarten's requirements. This is where you will find children doing a lot more with letters and numbers.

Answer 5

Pre-k is at an elementry school and is b4 kindergarten. Preschool is like a jumpstart. it is usually like at a YMCA or sumother local comunity center.

Answer 6

Preschool is more like just daycare. They usually have classes for 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds, and sometimes even 2-year-olds. Pre-K is specifically for children who are one year away from starting kindergarten. So there are some basic academics thrown in to prepare them for kindergarten. And they have to be 4-5 years old to enter pre-K.

Answer 7

THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE. PRESCHOOL AND PRE-KINDERGARTEN ARE THE SAME THING.