HAGERSTOWN, MD (October 3, 2017) – Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) is creating full-day pre-kindergarten access for 20 students at Emma K. Doub School for Integrated Arts and Technology, 20 more students at Lincolnshire Elementary School, and is expanding the pre-kindergarten program for 40 students at Williamsport Elementary School from half-day to full-day. The changes at Emma K. Doub and Lincolnshire will occur on October 23 and the change at Williamsport Elementary takes place on October 24.

Dr. Boyd Michael, superintendent of schools, announced the pre-kindergarten expansion at tonight’s Board of Education business meeting. “WCPS and the community have a stake in expanding and strengthening our early learning program. This is a positive step in providing more of our youngest students opportunities for a quality start to their school experience, and we are confident that they will be better prepared as they advance through elementary, middle and high school.”

With the changes, WCPS will provide full-day access to 580 four-year-old students and a half-day program to another 205 four-year-old students, for a total of 785 students in pre-kindergarten. That is a 35 percent increase from the previous school year and allows pre-kindergarten access to 50 percent of incoming kindergarten students.