Preschool Application Process
The Dedham Public Schools operates an integrated preschool program at the Curran Early Childhood Education Center. The program is designed to meet the needs of children between the ages of three and five who may exhibit delays in one or more areas of development. The integrated preschool classroom model includes enrollment opportunities for students who do not require special education support, creating the opportunity for our students with special needs to learn alongside age-like peers.
The integrated preschool has a limited number of tuition-based preschool spaces available each school year. Families with preschool aged children who are fully toilet-trained and display developmentally appropriate speech/language, social, and play skills may apply for a space in the ECEC preschool program.
Applications are reviewed in December and families are randomly selected by the ECEC for registration and enrollment in early January.
2024-2025 INTEGRATED PRESCHOOL SESSIONS
The ECEC’s integrated preschool provides a number of full and half day sessions in two, three, and five day per week configurations.
2024 - 2025 School Year Sessions
3 Year Old Sessions |
4 Year Old Sessions |
2 full days (Tues & Thurs) |
3 full days (Mon-Wed- Fri) |
3 full days (Mon - Wed - Fri) |
5 full days (Mon - Fri) |
5 ½ AM days (Mon - Fri) ** |
5 ½ AM days (Mon - Fri)** |
**½ day PM sessions may be added in the winter/spring based on the needs of students
PRESCHOOL SESSION TIMES
Full-day sessions start at 8:45 AM - 2:45 PM
Half days morning sessions run from 8:45 AM - 11:15 AM
AGE AND DEVELOPMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
3 Year Old Sessions
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Must be three (3) years old on or before September 1st of the coming school year
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Must be fully toilet trained and display developmentally appropriate speech/language, social, and play skills.
4 Year Old Sessions
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Must be four (4) years old on or before September 1st of the coming school year
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Must be fully toilet trained and display developmentally appropriate speech/language, social, and play skills.
Contact Us
To learn more about the Integrated Preschool Program:
Diana Parr
Educational Team Leader at the ECEC
diparr@dedham.k12.ma.us
781.310.8014
Question on the Application Process or Waitlist:
Carmel Kerrigan
ECEC Secretary
781-310-8000
APPLICATION PROCESS
Families and caregivers may submit applications for the ECEC integrated preschool program in November.
Once the application window closes ECEC faculty and staff compile and review applications. In early January the ECEC will conduct an enrollment screening. Students who are developmentally ready for preschool are eligible for available slots. The ECEC will conduct a random assignment of applicants to available seats in the integrated preschool program and use the random assignment process to generate a waitlist. Applicants who are not selected for a seat in January are placed on the waitlist. Enrollments generally fluctuate between January and the start of the following school year. If seats become available families on the waitlist will be contacted in order of random assignment to the waitlist.
ECEC Integrated Preschool FAQ
- How old must a child be to participate in the integrated preschool program?
- Why did the process for applying for preschool at the ECEC change?
- Is there an advantage to submitting an application early?
- How much does the Preschool program at the ECEC cost?
- Is before/after care available to students in ECEC preschool programs?
- If my child secures a preschool placement, do I automatically get my choice of program?
- Is preference given to siblings of existing ECEC students?
- What happens if my child’s name is NOT selected ?
- If a child is accepted through as a three-year-old, must that same child re-apply the following year?
- If you have so many applicants for your programs, why wouldn’t you just create more preschool sections to accommodate them?
- What is DELTA?
- What is the process to be placed at DELTA?
- How can I obtain more information about the integrated preschool program?