Preschool Open Doors Program Application Information Available

Maui Now Staff

The Preschool Open Doors program will be accepting applications from March 1 to April 30, 2015, for preschool participation during the July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016, school year.

POD is a Department of Human Services child care program for eligible low and moderate-income families sending their children to a certified preschool before kindergarten. The program aims to prepare children for school and provide them with introductory life skills for future success.

Children born between Aug. 1, 2010, and July 31, 2011, are encouraged to join the program. Children must be five years of age on or before July 31 to enter kindergarten. At-risk or underserved children will be considered first for the 2015-16 POD term.

Applications will be available through PATCH beginning Mar. 1, 2015, and can be downloaded at the end of February at www.patchHawaii.org. Interested families can also reserve a packet on O‘ahu by calling the PATCH office at 791-2130; on the Neighbor Islands, call 1-800-746-5620.

The deadline for the 2015-16 year is April 30, 2015.

Mail completed POD applications to:
PATCH – POD
560 North Nimitz Highway, Suite 218
Honolulu, HI 96817

POD helps Hawai‘i families pay school tuition at any of the state’s 424 licensed preschools. To find a preschool near you, contact the PATCH office.

Details on POD program priority considerations can be found on the DHS website.