UPK lottery signups open Friday, May 3 + important FAQs

UPK Lottery signups open this Friday, May 3

134 slots available with four local providers

• St. Stephen’s Mini Me Childcare (17 available spots)
• Warwick Daycare (23 available spots)
• Rhythm & Rhyme Childcare & Early Learning Center (18 available spots)
• The Village Childcare (76 available spots)

Warwick Valley Central School District will once again be offering its Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program for the 2024-25 school year. This special program is funded by a New York State Education Department (NYSED) grant, and provides an early learning experience for the children of WVCSD residents. Children enrolled in the district’s UPK program will attend class five hours per day, five days a week, for all 180 days of the educational year.

As required by NYS regulations, the district will have a lottery to determine who will be awarded the 134 available slots for 2024-2025. Lottery signups for UPK will open at 12:00 pm on Friday, May 3, 2024 on the district’s website, and continue through Monday, May 20, 2024. If your student is selected, you will be notified by June 10, 2024.

** A live sign-up link will be added to the WVCSD UPK PAGE at 12:00 pm on Friday, May 3. **

Please note that the grant does not cover the costs of before and aftercare. However, such services may be negotiable with individual providers at an additional fee.

AN OVERVIEW OF THE UPK PROGRAM

• The 2024-25 program is limited to children who turn four years old by December 1, 2024.
• You must be a resident of the District by May 3, 2024 to be eligible for the UPK program.
• Children attend the UPK program five days per week for five hours each day.
• The UPK program follows the district’s September – June calendar, with 180 days of instruction.
• Families are responsible for transportation to and from the provider agency. 
• There is no cost to parents for the UPK program. Note that individual providers may require a registration fee, which is not covered by the district.
• WVCSD cannot guarantee parents will receive their preferred choice of provider.
• There is a 2-step application and registration process to qualify for the 2024-25 UPK program.
  • Lottery entries will open May 3, 2024 at 12:00 pm and continues through May 20, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. on the district website 
  • The District will not select students on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• Only fully completed and approved 2-step application/registrations received by 4:00 p.m. on May 20, 2024 will be included in the selection process.  
• There is limited availability for the program based on grant funding and program space.
  • 2024-2025 funding allows us to enroll 134 students. If we receive more than that number of applications, the district will conduct a random lottery on May 3, 2024 to determine which children will participate. Lottery numbers 131 and greater will establish the UPK waiting list.
• ALL applicants will be notified by June 10, 2024 to notify parents/guardians as to whether their child was selected or placed on the waiting list. Parents/guardians will be asked to confirm receipt of the email notification. If we do not receive confirmation from you that you received the email notification, we will attempt to reach you by phone. If you do not respond within three (3) business days, your child will be moved to the end of the waiting list.
• It is recommend that families with multiple children pre-register their children at their first choice of UPK provider for their tuition UPK program, as the selection of one twin, triplet or sibling has no effect on the selection of other siblings during the lottery selection process. Each child in the family is treated as an individual.
• Your child must be up-to-date with vaccination requirements.
• If your child is selected, their UPK provider will require a separate registration.

STUDENT ALLOCATION BY PROVIDER

• St. Stephen’s Mini Me Childcare – 17 available spots
• Warwick Daycare – 23 available spots
• Rhythm & Rhyme Childcare & Early Learning Center – 18 available spots
• The Village Childcare – 76 available spots