Ellington Public Schools

How are children selected for participation in the preschool program?

• Children are selected for placement in our program through a lottery. The lottery for the school year will open on January 5 for the following school year and will close on March 2.

How do I apply for the lottery?

• You may enter your child’s name into the lottery between January 5 - March 2. Click here to enter the lottery.

If I did not enter the lottery before March 2, can my child still apply?

• After March 2, you may put your child’s name on our waiting list. Click here to add your child’s name to the waiting list.

Who is eligible to participate?

• Students who live in Ellington and who will be 3 by September 1, 2026, are eligible to attend preschool.

Is transportation or before/after care provided?

• Transportation and before/after care are not provided.

What is the tuition for the 2026-2027 School year?

• Morning: $465
• Afternoon: $410
• Full Day: $900

When will I find out if my child has been accepted to the Preschool Program?

• Parents who have signed up for the lottery prior to March 2 will be notified by March 20 whether their child has been offered a spot in the Preschool Program or been put on the waiting list.

What are the next steps if my child has been accepted into the Preschool Program?

• Families must provide a $50 deposit to hold their child’s spot for the 2026-2027 school year.
• Signed preschool contract for the 2026 - 2027 school year.
• Online preschool registration and required documents, including residency, current medical forms, and the child’s birth certificate, must be provided. Further information will be provided upon acceptance into the preschool program.
• All families must complete an Early Start application (formerly School Readiness).

What is Early Start (formerly School Readiness)?

• Early Start, an initiative of the Office of Early Childhood, allocates funds for qualifying families to access high-quality early childhood education programs. Funding from this program will provide families opportunities to prepare their young learners for school, help them access differentiated instruction, and provide family resources.
• Ellington Public Schools' preschool currently holds 22 slots for students to access Early Start Funding.
• Families must be Ellington residents and have children who are ages 3 or 4 and not currently eligible for Kindergarten.
• Families seeking the support of Early Start Funding may be expected to pay a fee based on their income and the Early Start Sliding Scale Fee.
• Upon acceptance into the preschool program, all families will complete an Early Start application as part of the preschool registration process. Once your application has been received, if eligible, you will receive a phone call to schedule an appointment to meet with Sara Iapaluccio, Special Education Supervisor, to complete the Income Verification and Fee Determination form. Please note that this process cannot be completed until after July 1, 2026, once grant funding is approved and distributed by the State of Connecticut.

If my child has been put on the waiting list, when will I know if they will have a spot in the Preschool Program?

• If a family who is offered a spot in the Preschool Program declines the placement, that spot will be offered to a family on the waiting list. It is possible for spots to be offered from the waiting list as early as April or as late as September, although we make every effort to fill all open spots as soon as possible.

What should I do if I have concerns about my preschool-age child’s development?

• If your child is between the ages of 3-5 and has not yet started Kindergarten, and you have questions or concerns, please contact Megan Davis at 860-896-2329 or email mdavis@ellingtonschools.net.

How do the new kindergarten eligibility requirements impact preschool?

• Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, Connecticut law requires children to turn 5 years old on or before September 1 to automatically be eligible for kindergarten. Please see the attached video clips below from the September and October Board of Education meetings for more information.