Eager parents have started camping out extra early Thursday for the sake of their child's education.

They plan to sleep outside the Memphis City Schools Board of Education to secure an application for optional school enrollment.
 
MORE: Memphis City Schools Optional Schools' Open Houses

The program allows parents to tailor their child's curriculum to focus on fine arts, college prep or other theme-based programs.
 
Parents say they're surprised camping out started this early. They're taking off work or calling in babysitters to be here. They say this is all worth it for their child's education.

The first parent arrived outside the board of education at around noon Thursday. Since then, word spread. Over a dozen parents, some from as far away as Cordova and Lakeland, have set up camp by late Thursday afternoon.

Several parents who spoke with FOX13 News hope to enroll their children into White Station Middle School.

Parents will be camped out for the next four days until Tuesday morning, Jan. 22, when applications with bar codes will be available at the board of education's central office. The bar code reserves the parents' place in line.