Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program

  • Registration for 2021-2022 is open!

    The ACSD Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program is a half-day program (2.5 hours) with morning and afternoon sessions at two sites: 

    • Windermere Boulevard Elementary School at 291 Windermere Boulevard
    • Amherst Community Church Child Care Center at 77 Washington Highway

    Age Requirements: 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 Pre-K the year they turn 4 prior to Dec. 1.

    Transportation is provided to and from the Windermere site only. Parents are responsible for transportation at the ACCCC.

    ACCCCC has wrap-around childcare available for families that is self-pay. This means you can have your child attend daycare there and the 2.5 hour UPK portion of the day is free. Wrap-care spots are limited and are separate from the UPK program. Contact Andrea O’Hern, ACCCCC Director, at 834-9701 for more information about childcare.

    Parents can select a preference, however 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 Pre-kindergarten funding is guaranteed. 

    New for the 2021-2022 School Year!
    Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program registration for the 2021-2022 school year will be done online using our Family Connection platform.

    Register for the Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program
    Online registrations are now being accepted and processed.

    Contact Us: For whatever reason, if you are unable to register online, please contact Amanda Muller, amuller@amherstschools.org.

    Important Dates
    Feb. 10, 2021: applications available online
    March 5, 2021: Due date for Pre-K applications with complete district registration and uploaded documents

    • If we have more applications than spots at this time, there will be a lottery. Any students that do not get in based on the lottery will be placed on our waitlist.
    • Any applications received after March 5 will be placed based on available openings, or will be added to our waitlist.

    Late March 2021: Tentative acceptance letters sent home (site and time specific only)
    August 2021: Supply lists available

    UPK 2021-2022 Family Handbook - use this as a guide to learn more and answer any questions.