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Ellington Public Schools

Growing Exceptional Learners

Preschool Program

Preschool Programming

  • Megan Davis

    Preschool Programming Coordinator mdavis@ellingtonschools.net 860-896-2329

  • Sara Iapaluccio

    Special Education Supervisor siapaluccio@ellingtonschools.net 860-896-2300

Preschool Program Locations

 

Crystal Lake Elementary School

59 South Rd, Ellington, CT 06029

(860) 896-2322

Full Day Class: 8:40 - 2:45, Monday - Friday

 

Windermere Elementary School

2 Abbott Rd, Ellington, CT 06029

(860) 896-2329

Morning Class: 8:40 - 11:40, Monday - Friday

Afternoon Class: 12:15 - 2:45, Monday - Friday

Full Day Class: 8:40 - 2:45, Monday - Friday

A young boy smiles while painting at a table in a classroom.

Click here to Register for the 2026-2027 School Year (Next Year)

Click here for Current School Year Registration (2025-26)

 

Additional documents to be completed for registration:

 

Ellington Public Schools Registration is also required for the following (K-12 only):

  1. Students who reside in Ellington and attend a magnet, technical, or Vo-Ag school.
  2. Students who are returning to Ellington (from a magnet or technical school, or out of state/country).
  3. Students receiving Home Instruction should complete the Intent to Homeschool Form annually for each child and submit it to the Assistant Superintendent’s office.
  4. Students aged 5 or 6 not attending school due to an exemption should complete the Kindergarten Opt-Out Form and submit it to the Assistant Superintendent’s office.

  • Admission to the Public Schools at or Before Age Five

  • If you haven’t already, please complete the online registration for the 2026-2027 school year.

  • The vast majority of elementary students will attend the school within their established zone of residence. However, per the School Enrollment Zone Policy, students may be assigned outside their established school zone. This policy will primarily impact a small number of students entering kindergarten or newly enrolled in the district.

    This policy allows the administration to determine the best placement for incoming students based on several factors – school enrollments, student educational needs, location of special education programs, and transportation (provided by the district). Students will be assigned by the administration as soon as possible following the completion of all registration forms, including age and residency verification.

    Parents/guardians of children may request an assignment to a school outside their established school zone (Elementary School Request). These requests must be made in writing and are not guaranteed. The Superintendent will consider the request, which may be granted at the sole discretion of the Superintendent on an annual basis, and transportation may not be provided by the district as a result. Such decisions may not be made until late in the summer when enrollment numbers are in place

    If you have questions regarding the registration process, please contact the Ellington Public Schools administrative office at 860-896-2300.

     

  • The Federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act provides special legal protections for children and youth experiencing homelessness, including homeless “unaccompanied youth” who are not in the custody of a parent or guardian. Children experiencing homelessness or displacement have a right to enroll in school even if their families cannot produce enrollment documentation. Assistance is available at the time of registration. 

    Contact the Office of Special Services for questions and guidance regarding the Federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act at 860-896-2300, Ext. 114.

Enrollment: Frequently Asked Questions

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?

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

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/month
  • Afternoon: $410/month
  • Full Day: $900/month

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.