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We 💖 MECK Pre-K!

Valentine's Day may be past us, but we wanted to share with you some of the reasons why we LOVE MECK Pre-K!

MECK Pre-K Is Available to All Children of Age. MECK Pre-K is open to all children in Mecklenburg County who turn four by August 31. Offering a program without typical eligibility requirements allows for children of all backgrounds to participate in an impactful program that will set the tone for a lifetime of learning.

MECK Pre-K Helps Our Children.  The foundation created in a high-quality pre-K program such as MECK Pre-K prepares children for the demands of life — not only in the short-term as they succeed in school, but also in the long-term as they become adults and contribute to the strength of the community.

MECK Pre-K Is Here to Stay. Looking back on the first few years, and the thousands of children who have been through the program who are now in elementary school, it feels our hearts with joy!

Apply for MECK Pre-K Today!

Registration is open! If you have a child that's turning 4 years old by August 31st, you can still apply for MECK Pre-K! MECK Pre-K is high quality pre-k education open to all four-year-old children in Mecklenburg County at no cost to families! Head on over to our enrollment page to apply!

Is your child not old enough for pre-K?

You can sign up to be notified when registration opens for your child's school year. Visit our Future MECK Pre-K Student Page to register.

Parent Testimonial

Here's what one of our parents had to say about their experience with MECK pre-K:

Jack is being taught by talented and dedicated professionals, (Ms. Call and Ms. Clem), who work tirelessly to have him and his classmates prepared to succeed in kindergarten. We are greeted every day with enthusiasm and kindness. The program is so well-organized and comprehensive. It is a great transition for children and parents into the CMS system. The growth that I have seen this year in Jack is truly amazing. I am so grateful for Meck Pre-K.  

-Tracy Faulk

Parents! we would love to hear from you. How is MECK Pre-k assisting in your child's development? share your story on our Testimonial Page!



MECK Pre-K in the Classroom

Check out some pictures from the last few weeks in the classroom!

Students began their signs study where they have set up roleplaying stations like the hospital above. Students are learning all about how to identify signs, what they mean, how to make signs among other activities.

Playful learning is an important part of the classroom. NAECY refers to playful learning as a learning environment where children acquire knowledge through free play, guided play with teacher support, or structured games.

Another classroom set up a space station and students dressed up as Astronauts to their work at their space station. Students learned about warning signs and many more things related to a work space.

Help Spread the Word

About MECK Pre-K!

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn and share our posts! You can find even more ways to talk about MECK Pre-K on our Partner Toolkit Page.

Use our partner toolkit! 

If you're part of an organization whose employes, customers, or clients would benefit from high-quality pre-K, please help us spread the word by using our partner toolkit! This convenient toolkit has downloadable posters, graphics, screen savers, social media content, bookmarks, videos, and more – even coloring pages for kids! Visit https://meckprek.org/partner-toolkit/  

Celebrating Black

History Month

Every February we celebrate Black History Month at MECK Pre-K. We honor the achievements and contributions of black Americans who have helped shape the US! Each of our classrooms celebrate in different ways, from readings to activities to guest speakers to arts and crafts and many more. Celebrate with us and keep a look out on our social media channels for a summary of events from our classrooms.

Volunteer for us!

We are so grateful to all of our community volunteers who help Smart Start ensure that all Mecklenburg County kids “turn five, ready to thrive”. Our volunteers have been busy this summer packing snack bags, assisting with events, and delivering books. If you’re interested in volunteering with Smart Start, head over to our volunteer portal, or contact Jo Boyd at JBoyd@SmartStartofMeck.org

Mecklenburg County

Budget Survey

As you may know, MECK Pre-K is a County-funded service. Mecklenburg County is now conducting its Resident Budget Priority Survey for Fiscal Year 2026. We hope you will take a moment to complete the survey and provide your comments on MECK Pre-K and other County-funded services. Click here to complete the survey!