What is Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK)?
UPK is a free preschool experience made possible through grants from the New York State Education Department (NYSED). The district offers both half-day and full-day UPK classes.

Is UPK free to families?
Yes, our UPK program is free to East Irondequoit families.

Is UPK mandatory?
UPK is not mandatory. Families are not required to send children to UPK.

Who is eligible to attend?
Children who reside in the East Irondequoit Central School District and turn four (4) years of age on or before December 1, 2024, are eligible for the program. To apply, you must complete a Universal Pre-kindergarten Lottery Application.

Where will the UPK Classrooms be located?
The district will have classrooms located in Helendale and Ivan Green Primary Schools, as well as St. Ambrose Academy and Liberty Post.

Will wrap-around care be offered?
The district will offer wrap-around care through the Bayview YMCA at Ivan Green and Helendale Road Schools for preschool age children. Wrap care will be available before and after school for full day UPK students and either before or after school (6:45 am to Start of School, or End of School to 6 pm) for half day students depending on if they are attending in the am or pm. For more information and to register, visit the Bayview YMCA website: https://rochesterymca.org/child-care/basp

How do interested families apply for UPK?
Families interested in UPK must complete the lottery application available from January 24, 2025, to February 27, 2025 at midnight.

Where are completed applications sent?
The application can be filled out online, which will be sent to the Office of Instruction through the form system. If you filled out a paper application, send the completed applications to the District Registrar’s Office at 600 Pardee Road, Rochester, NY 14609.

How will families know if their child has been selected?
Families will be notified by email by March 4, 2025, if their child has been selected for UPK or if they have been placed on a waitlist.

What happens if a child is not selected?
Students who are not selected through the lottery have the option to be placed on a wait list. If any vacancies occur during the year, those vacancies will be filled through the use of the wait list until the wait list has been exhausted.

When will the lottery occur?
The UPK Lottery for the 2025-26 school year will be held on February 28, 2025.

How will the lottery be conducted?
Each child will be assigned a number and numbers will be chosen through a random lottery system.

If I hand in my application right away, does that improve my child’s chances of being selected?
No, all completed eligible applications will be included in the rubric/ lottery selection process.

Can families indicate their UPK school preference?
On the application, families will rank the schools they are interested in as well as their preference of full or half-day classes.

How long is the program?
The program follows the school calendar and runs weekdays for 6 ½ hours per day. At Ivan Green and Helendale Primary Schools, classes will run from 9am to 3:30pm. At Liberty Post, classes will run from 8-10:30am or 11:15am to 1:45 p.m. UPK does not run in the summer.

How big will the class sizes be?
Each class will have a maximum of 18 students.

How are the classrooms staffed?
According to NYS, a classroom size of 18 students or less requires 1 teacher and 1 aide.

Will meals and snacks be provided?
Students will have the option to get FREE breakfast and lunch at school, or families can pack their child’s lunch.

Is rest time required?
While nap time is not required, a period of quiet time is recommended.

Is transportation provided?
No, families will need to provide transportation.

What if a child has an IEP?
Families will work with the Office of Inclusive Education.

What will be taught?
The district will teach common and consistent curriculum which addresses the NYS Pre-Kindergarten Learning Standards: social/emotional learning, communication, language, literacy, ELA, math, science, social studies, technology etc.

What are the NYS Pre-Kindergarten Learning Standards?
The NYS Pre-Kindergarten Learning Standards can be found here.

How will food allergies be handled?
We encourage families to connect with the classroom teacher to make an individual plan which addresses their child’s unique needs.

What other safety precautions are in place to ensure children’s safety at their program site?
The school district has strict policies on who enters and exits the building. Families will have to complete required paperwork that includes typical emergency contact information and information on who can pick up the child.