HAMPTON CITY SCHOOLS EVERY CHILD, EVERY DAY, WHATEVER IT TAKES!
HAMPTON CITY SCHOOLS EVERY CHILD, EVERY DAY, WHATEVER IT TAKES!
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Heather Goode
Coordinator,
Moton Early Childhood Center
757-727-1061
339 Old Buckroe Road 23663
Hampton City Schools offers full-day, high-quality early childhood education to eligible children through the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI). The Virginia Preschool Initiative is a state funded program that provides quality preschool programs for at-risk four-year-olds unserved by the federal Head Start program. The purpose of the program is to reduce disparities among young children upon formal school entry and to reduce or eliminate those risk factors that lead to early academic failure.
Preschool Opportunities
Preschool learning includes classroom learning opportunities for children who are not old enough to go to kindergarten or elementary school. Hampton City Schools offers access to several preschool programs that promote school-readiness with a focus on physical, motor and social and emotional development. Please note eligibility requirements for each opportunity.
HCS VPI is a FREE full-day program for children who will be four years old by September 30th and who live in Hampton. The program is designed to give eligible children opportunities to create a firm educational foundation that can be used to achieve academic and social success. For more information, scroll to our VPI information below.
Head Start is a federally-funded program that works directly with localities. The Virginia Head Start State Collaboration Project oversees the program and represents its interests on the state level. If you are interested in applying for Hampton Head Start through Hampton Roads Community Action Program please visit their website: https://hrcapinc.org/head-start-enrollment/.
Are you concerned that your 2 to 5 year old is delayed or has a disability? Contact the Early Childhood Assessment Team (ECAT) to schedule a meeting. ECAT will meet with you to discuss your concerns along with the special education and eligibility process for our youngest learners. Young students who have been found eligible for special education services may attend classes that provide early childhood special education. Early Childhood Special Education classrooms provide a gradient of services for students aged 2 to 5 through an Individualized Educational Program (IEP). Our ECSE students receive instruction that is designed to build on the strengths of each child, and work on opportunities for growth. Services are individualized for each child using data to inform decisions.
If you suspect your preschool-aged child may have a disability and require special services, please contact:
Hampton City Schools Department of Special Education
Dr. Lydia Lawson, Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator.
Email llawson1@hampton.k12.va.us Call: 757-727-2419 Fax: 757-727-2425
Hampton City Schools offers an Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Program for students ages 2 - 5 who qualify for special education services under IDEA. ECSE students attend program sessions based on their identified needs. The ECSE program is designed to meet the individual needs of children with disabilities based on an appropriate service delivery model as determined by the IEP committee.
ECSE classrooms are located throughout the school division in select public elementary schools. Services focus on communication development, self-help skill development, problem-solving, pre-academic skills, and body movement and awareness. Individual objectives and strategies are developed for each child based on evidence-based practices. Related services are provided as determined by the IEP and may include services such as speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.
If you suspect your preschool-aged child may have a disability and require special services, please contact:
Hampton City Schools Department of Special Education
Dr. Lydia Lawson, Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator.
Email llawson1@hampton.k12.va.us Call: 757-727-2419 Fax: 757-727-2425
Eligibility
Interested families may use the online preschool eligibility screening OR call 757-727-1061 to schedule an in-person Pre-K eligibility screening appointment.
2025-26 Required Documents to Apply
To apply for HCS Preschool (VPI, Head Start, and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Inclusion Classes) families will need to complete the online preschool eligibility screening and provide (upload) the following documents:
Original or Certified Child’s Birth Certificate
Proof of Residence
Proof of Income
Up-to-Date Immunization and Physical Exam Records
Individualized Education Program (IEP), if Applicable
Court-ordered Custody Paperwork, if Applicable
Families of children with special needs are encouraged to apply to preschool.
Families in transition, including students experiencing housing instability, houselessness and living with kinship caregivers/non-guardian family members, can contact the HCS Social Work Department ljohnson4@hampton.k12.va.us for additional support. If you need additional information or assistance with your online application or if you are missing one or more of the required documents, please call 757-727-1061. We are here to help.
Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI)
What is VPI?
VPI is a FREE full-day program for children who will be four years old by September 30th and who live in Hampton. The program is designed to give eligible children opportunities to create a firm educational foundation that can be used to achieve academic and social success.
- There is a qualified instructional and support staff, and a certified school nurse. A family service worker provides family support by connecting home and school activities.
In the classroom- Each classroom has a certified early childhood teacher and an instructional assistant. A maximum of 20 students are in each classroom. A developmentally appropriate curriculum is used and aligned with the Early Learning Developmental Standards (ELDS). We currently use STREAMin3 for our curriculum framework.
Apply for HCS VPI Program
Now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 school year!
Families interested in enrolling their child in VPI should follow our district application process.
To learn more about the application process, scroll down this page!
Acceptance Criteria
Acceptance into the program is determined on eligibility criteria and identified risk factors, not on a first-come, first-served basis.
family income
level of parent/legal guardian education
housing concerns or homelessness
special needs or disability
VPI Application Process
Collect the documents you will need to complete the CPI application process.
Original or Certified Child’s Birth Certificate
Proof of Residence
Proof of Income
Up-to-Date Immunization and Physical Exam Records
Individualized Education Program (IEP), if Applicable
Court-ordered Custody Paperwork, if Applicable
Complete the VPI Eligibility Screening. The VPI application process requires families to complete the online eligibility screener. If you are eligible, someone from the Early Childhood Office will contact you for Step 3.
COMPLETE HCS REGISTRATION Once you have been screened and found eligible for the HCS VPI program, families will receive a follow up link to the PowerSchool Registration form provided in an acceptance email.
Selections and Notifications for the 2025-2026 HCS VPI Program occur during the first week of July 2025. Notifications will be sent via the email provided on the submitted application.
VPI Frequently Asked Questions
Attendance Expectations Students are expected to attend school daily and on time. A progression of individual interventions will address absences and tardies. Teachers are required to record class or daily attendance. For all or part of a school day, each student's absence needs to be supported by a valid excuse. Although there is no legal requirement for four-year-old children to attend school, pre-kindergarten students need to attend school with the same expectations as older children. When pre-kindergarten students are absent or tardy, they miss valuable academic instruction and learning that would make them successful in kindergarten. After 15 consecutive unexcused absences, students will be withdrawn.
Students will be assigned to one of the eight PK sites based on pick-up and drop-off address. Parents will receive communication with the assigned site toward the end of July.
Moton Pre-Kindergarten
Andrews
Bassette
Langley
Patrick
Phenix
Smith
Jackson
© 2025 HAMPTON CITY SCHOOLS All Rights Reserved
ONE FRANKLIN STREET, HAMPTON, VIRGINIA 23669
757-727-2000
