Two innovative pre-kindergarten classrooms are located at Project Enlightenment. The use of research-based best practices in early childhood education makes either of them an excellent pre-kindergarten experience for young four-year-old children that are not kindergarten eligible.

Each classroom emphasizes that children “learn by doing.” This instructional focus, combined with an emphasis on literacy and promoted through inquiry-based learning techniques, is based on early learning standards for North Carolina preschoolers, adopted by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The classrooms are organized into centers such as: the construction center, dramatic play, a creation station, music, a discovery center and a literacy center. The schedule typically includes a “together time” to begin the day, creative play time, small group activities, clean-up, breakfast and lunch mealtimes, outdoor play time and an assigned center time. Special weekly activities include a social skills program and storytime/ book checkout in the PTRC library. 

• The Demonstration Preschool (DPS) is an inclusive half-day classroom for four-year-olds. It serves both children with developmental and/or social-emotional concerns and typically developing children. The admissions process for the upcoming 2024-2025 DPS classroom begins in December 2023 and concludes by the end of February 2024. Call our main number at 919.856.7774 if you are interested in signing up for a tour or to learn more about our admissions process.

• The Blended Classroom (BC) is a full-day classroom serving students funded by Title 1, NC PreK and WCPSS Preschool Special Education Services. It emphasizes research-based early literacy practices. Students are assigned to this classroom by the Wake County Public School System. For an application for this program, visit www.wakesmartstart.org/families/wake-pre-k-overview/apply/ call Smart Start at 919-851-9550 and ask for a Wake Pre-K Application. This application is not specific to Project Enlightenment but is a universal application for all Title I and NC PreK classrooms.

Both classrooms at Project Enlightenment are "Guided Observation" sites. Guided Observations are designed for teachers of three- to five-year-olds and scheduled throughout the traditional school year. Participants that register will observe developmentally appropriate best practices occurring in one of the two inclusive pre-kindergarten classrooms serving four-year-olds. Following the observation, participants discuss and determine strategies for implementing best practices in their own classrooms. Some of the "best practices" participants might observe are: building a caring classroom community, social-emotional skill development, positive guidance strategies, literacy-rich environments, and respectful teacher/child interactions. Check our workshop tab for more information about registering for a Guided Observation.