Universal Prekindergarten Program

  • Amherst Central School District will offer both Full-Day and Half-Day Universal Prekindergarten for the 2023-24 school year. Please read the Program Details section below for more program information.

    Full-Day: Additional state funding allows the district to offer seven full-day UPK classes with two classrooms at Smallwood Drive Elementary, two classrooms at Windermere Boulevard Elementary and three classes at Amherst Community Church Child Care Center (ACCCCC). Each class will have up to 18 students. 

    Half-Day: The district-run UPK program will offer one morning half-day class at Amherst Nursery School. 

    Transportation: Busing will be provided to and from all district-run UPK locations. To be eligible for transportation, you must reside within the Amherst CSD boundaries and the child must be four years old. As per NYS guidelines, we cannot transport children who are three years old.

    Age Requirement: UPK is open to any four-year-old residing in the district. The child must be four by Dec. 1 of the school year they are applying for. Your child is only eligible to attend UPK the year they turn four prior to Dec. 1.

    Lottery System: If there are more students than spots available in the program, or in a selected class, a random lottery will take place. This lottery will occur in mid-March.

    Site Preference:  
    Parents can select a site preference, but placements are not guaranteed because class sizes are limited. As a result of the program being funded by state grants, definite confirmation will occur only after the New York State budget is passed and Universal Prekindergarten funding is guaranteed. Parents will receive an initial confirmation with site location by April 1. In August, families will receive a placement letter with their child’s teacher, supply list and school information.

    Register Here for UPK for the 2023-24 School Year

    Download the UPK Family Handbook

Program Details

  • Full-Day Program Details

  • What Does A Full Day Look Like?

  • Half-Day Program Details

Contact Us

  • UPK Registration Timeline
    Feb. 6, 2023 - Online registration opens
    March 10, 2023 - Initial registration closes. Completed paperwork is due by this date.
    March 31, 2023 - Families notified via mail of site location
    Aug. 18, 2023 - Families notified via mail of child's teacher, school information and supply list.


    Registration Questions?
    Contact Sally Cukierski, Central Registrar.
    Amherst School emails are: first letter of first name and the complete last name, followed by @amherstschools.org (with no spaces)   

    Program Questions? Pre-K Office
    Karen Redding, PreK Coordinator
    Office hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. You can expect a reply on those days.