Universal Pre-K
The Williamsville Central School District’s Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) Program is a developmentally appropriate, learner-centered educational program to help four-year old children develop physically, socially, emotionally, linguistically, culturally, and intellectually. The program has a strong emphasis on early literacy and early numeracy aligned with the New York State Pre-K curriculum.
Children who will be four years of age by December 1, 2024 and reside in the Williamsville Central School District are eligible to be considered for the 2024-2025 program. Parents and guardians who are interested in having their child considered for UPK must call the District Registrar at 716-626-8001 and confirm that their four-year-old is included in the District census. This step is required even if families have other children who are currently registered in the Williamsville Central School District. Once included in the District census, parents should receive a letter by mid-February to indicate interest in the program. The deadline to apply for the program is March 1, 2024.
UPK students are considered new entrants to the Williamsville Central School District and must meet the following program requirements as articulated by New York State and WCSD:
- Students must attend their UPK program 5-hours per day, 5-days a week, for the entire 180-day school year.
- Students must meet the expectation to arrive on time, and stay for the entire duration of the school day.
- Transportation to and from the program is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
- Students must meet NYS immunization and mandated health requirements.
Important Dates for the 2024-2025 School Year
| Date and Year Child will Be Four-Years Old | UPK Interest Forms Will Be Sent to Eligible Families by: |
UPK Interest Form (Google Form) MUST Be Completed By: | Random Lottery Will Take Place Families Will Receive an E-mail with UPK Information: | UPK Placement Form (Google Form) is Due By: | All Registration Forms Due By: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1, 2024 |
February 2024 | March 1, 2024 | No later than the end of March 2024 | See placement e-mail for important dates and details |
April 19, 2024 |
Currently, the Williamsville Central School District collaborates with five community-based child care centers and two District elementary schools to provide the UPK program. UPK is a New York State and federally funded grant program that is offered to eligible children free of charge. The total number of students selected in any given year is predicated upon the availability of funding. If there are more applicants than available spaces, all names will be entered into a random, digitized lottery process to offer a student placement in the program. This year, the lottery is planned to occur in March. The District cannot guarantee that a child will be selected to participate in the UPK program or if selected, a specific location can not be promised. Students who are not selected for the UPK program via the lottery process will be added to a waitlist. The District is in the process of exploring options to increase UPK enrollment, and if additional seats become available, parents on the waitlist will be contacted with the applicable program information.
Please contact the Office of Instruction at 716-626-8071 to speak to the UPK secretary with any questions pertaining to the UPK program.
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