Universal Prekindergarten and Sure Start for Overseas Families

The Department of War Education Activity, or DoWEA, is committed to creating safe, caring learning environments which engage military-connected children. DoWEA offers two research-based preschool programs that serve 4-year-old command-sponsored children in military families stationed at overseas installations.

Both Sure Start and Universal Prekindergarten offer a comprehensive early childhood education learning program, and Sure Start has added health and social benefits for children.

Universal Prekindergarten

Prekindergarten is a full-day, standards-based program that serves all eligible dependents and families in most locations throughout DoWEA. While select schools within DoWEA have previously offered the Sure Start Program and part-time prekindergarten programs to eligible families, Universal Prekindergarten is designated to open in all primary DoWEA locations.

DoWEA’s prekindergarten program offers age-appropriate curriculums designed for individual learning needs and encourages creativity and critical thinking through play-based activities. Led by qualified and experienced early childhood educators, the learning program is partnership-focused to encourage continued learning at home.

To qualify, your child must turn 4 years old by Sept. 1 of the enrolling school year and be a command-sponsored dependent. All prekindergarten students are required to participate in the Student Meal Program. Reminders of this enrollment are sent during the registration process.

Sure Start

Sure Start assists qualified preschool-age military children living overseas in Ansbach and Wiesbaden, Germany. The program offers:

• Full-day comprehensive preschool education program for eligible dependents
• Health and nutrition services that include medical, dental and developmental screenings as well as nutritious snacks and lunch at no charge
• Close cooperation with Social Services and supplemental resources that may be available for participating families within the community
• Parent-involvement services that provide for two-way communication between parents and teachers and opportunities for parents to participate in their child’s learning experiences, including home visits and school conferences

To qualify, your child must turn 4 years old by Sept. 1 of the enrolling school year and be a command-sponsored dependent.

• Ranks between E-1 and E-4 or the civilian equivalent (GS-1 to GS-4 and nonappropriated fund, NAF-1 and NAF-2) living and working at military installations overseas have first priority.
• Any sponsor whose rank is E-5 to E-9, GS-5 to GS-8, or NAF-3 and NAF-4 may apply for the program in the event that space becomes available due to low enrollment. Rank priorities can be found on the Sure Start application available on the DoWEA website.

Additional selection criteria for student enrollment may apply:

• Lives in a single-parent household
• Had a low birth weight
• Has an older sibling with severe disabilities
• Lives in a home with three or more children close in age
• Has a parent who did not graduate from high school
• Has a parent who was a teenager when the first child was born
• Has a parent whose primary language is not English
• Has a parent who is on a remote assignment or temporary duty for at least three months

What’s the difference between Sure Start and Head Start?

Sure Start is built on the same foundation as Head Start and fits better into the DoWEA culture and regulations for families located overseas. Head Start is a domestic federal program operated by the Department of Health and Human Services and not a program of the War Department.

Both Sure Start and Head Start:

• Use a four-tiered delivery system: education, health and nutrition, social services and mandatory parent involvement
• Run medical, dental and developmental screenings for students and provide follow-up assessments if needed
• Provide no-cost, nutritious lunches and snacks
• Encourage family involvement
• Cater to students’ ages, individual needs and cultures using a learning environment, with developmentally appropriate curriculum, materials, routines and daily activities
• Follow a full-day preschool program

How is Sure Start different from Head Start?

• DoWEA oversees the Sure Start program outside of the United States. DHHS oversees Head Start within the United States.
• Sure Start considers a military sponsor’s rank its first priority for enrollment. Head Start uses income to determine eligibility.
• Sure Start does not use a child’s disability status to determine eligibility. Head Start reserves at least 10% of their slots in each classroom for children with disabilities.
• Parent involvement in Sure Start is mandatory.
• Sure Start staffs two adults for every 18 to 20 students. Local or state licensing boards determine Head Start’s staff-to-child ratios.
• Sure Start staff works with DoWEA Student Services staff to determine the best placement and support services for each child.
• Sure Start programs follow the DoWEA’s College and Career Ready Standards including Sure Start Standards and DoWEA adopted curriculum.

Is Prekindergarten or Sure Start the right program for my child?

If you think your preschooler may be a good fit for Universal Prekindergarten or the Sure Start program, contact your local school liaison, your installation’s elementary school office or your Military and Family Support Center. You can also visit DoWEA’s early learning page to see if your child is eligible to apply for the preschool programs.

Additional education resources to help military families

Parents can tap into additional resources to help their children learn and thrive.

• The Exceptional Family Member Program Family Support and the EFMP & Me online toolkit offer additional resources to families with special educational needs. Find a wealth of information covering your needs, including planning and task checklists. A short information video gets you started.
• Thrive is the free, online parenting-education program developed through a partnership with Penn State’s Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness and DOW’s Office of Military Community and Family Policy. Thrive offers comprehensive, on-demand parenting programs to assist you in handling parenting challenges at any age. Programs include positive parenting practices, parent and child stress management and physical health promotion for parents of children from birth to 18.
• Sesame Street for Military Families offers resources that help with basic early learning and includes topics for military-connected children such as deployment, separation, reunification and more. All topics from Sesame for Families include printable PDFs for use at home, as well as interactive games, videos, storybooks, articles and workshops for parents and families.
• School liaisons are located at each installation and are the main contact for military families, local school systems and installation leadership for school-related matters pre-K through 12th grade. Your installation school liaison assists with transition support, including school selection, transfer or credits and youth sponsorship referrals, and special education needs and referrals.

Military OneSource consultants are available 24/7 to assist military families in order to help them thrive in their military life. Call 800-342-9647, view international calling options or log in to start a secure live chat.