Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program

Information for the 2026-2027 Full-Day UPK Program

UPK Registration for 2026-27 opens at 8 a.m. on Jan. 26, 2026
Deadline to be included in the lottery is Feb. 27, 2026 at 4 p.m.
Registrations submitted after 4 p.m. on Feb. 27 will be placed on a wait list.

UPK stands for Universal Prekindergarten. UPK is a New York State grant funded program offered to eligible resident children free of charge. It is a developmentally appropriate, play based, learner-centered educational program to support four-year-olds in the five domains developing physically, socially, emotionally, linguistically, culturally and intellectually. The program has a strong emphasis on early literacy, early numeracy aligned with the New York State PreK Curriculum.

Children who will be four years old by December 1, 2026 and who reside in the Amherst Central School District will be eligible to be considered for the UPK program. Your child is only eligible to attend UPK the year they turn four on or before Dec. 1. If your child is turning five on or before Dec. 1, they are eligible for kindergarten, not the UPK program.

If there are more applicants than available spots, a random, digitized lottery will be held to determine acceptance into the UPK program. The lottery is random and not based on a first-come, first-serve list. Students who are not selected via the lottery will be placed on a wait list.

All registrations received within the window of Jan. 26 at 8 a.m. through Feb. 27 at 4 p.m. are eligible to be included in the lottery as long as all documents have been submitted and verified by the District as of March 13. Registrations received after the Feb. 27 (4 p.m.) deadline are placed on a wait list.

Please note that your registration does not signify your child’s acceptance into the program and you are not guaranteed a spot. Our program is in high demand in the Amherst CSD community, so please be aware that demand could be higher than available openings and plan accordingly.

For the 2026-27 school year, Amherst Central School District will provide a full-day UPK program at two district elementary schools and in collaboration with one community-based child care organization. The district offers full-day UPK classes at Smallwood Drive Elementary, Windermere Boulevard Elementary and Amherst Community Church Child Care Center (ACCCCC). During registration, parents may indicate a preferred site placement. Please note that a specific site placement cannot be promised.

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.

UPK Registrations are accepted year-round.

Transportation

Transportation is not provided by the District. Transportation to and from the UPK program is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.

Timeline

Jan. 26 - Feb. 27, 2026: Registration and application window to be included in the lottery. Registrations submitted after the 4 p.m. deadline on Feb. 27, 2026 will be placed on the wait list.
March 13, 2026: Deadline for all supporting documents to be submitted and verified at a scheduled in-person meeting. If you fail to verify documents by March 13 at 4 p.m. you cannot be included in the lottery and will be placed on the wait list. All families to be included in the lottery will be notified by email.
March 18, 2026: Random, digitized lottery to be held.
March 20, 2026: Parents notified of lottery results.
March 27, 2026: Parents are notified of placement.
August 2026: Classroom and teacher assignment letters are mailed. Supplies are provided by the District.

Read the 2025-2026 UPK Family Handbook

Where are the UPK locations and hours?

Full Day - UPK at Windermere Boulevard, 291 Windermere Boulevard
Hours: 9 a.m.- 2:30 p.m.
Wrap-around care provided through Just for Kids.

Full Day - UPK at Smallwood Drive Elementary, 300 Smallwood Drive
Hours: 8 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
Wrap-around care provided through Just for Kids.

Full Day - Amherst Community Church Child Care Center, 77 Washington Highway
Hours: 9 a.m.- 2:30 p.m.
Wrap-around care provided by ACCCCC. It is self-pay. Contact Andrea O’Hern, ACCCCC Director, at 834-9701 for more information.

Is there a cost?

What Does A Full Day Look Like?

Our UPK curriculum ensures developmentally appropriate content aligned with NYS Learning Standards while providing an environment that promotes social-emotional development. Engaging learning centers are frequently utilized to promote play, communication skills, social-emotional skills, fine motor development, and skill reinforcement in ELA, Math and Science. The program also incorporates additional extended time for gross motor activities, instructional reinforcement of Literacy and Math concepts as well as lunch and rest time.

The full day program begins with a Morning Meeting that brings the class together as a community of learners to start the day. Next, breakfast is served, family style, which allows for social and self-help skills to be fostered and modeled by our highly qualified teachers. Whole group story time and reading lessons occur during circle time, as well as opportunities for play at one of the classroom learning centers. These centers include art, math manipulatives, blocks, sand/water, and computers. The dramatic play area models real-life settings such as a house, store, restaurant, or post office. Our monthly themes allow for science and social studies content to be connected throughout our daily learning. The day ends with a Closing Circle where students recall the learning from the day while also helping to build a positive classroom community.

Is breakfast and lunch provided for my child?

Yes, all students attending Amherst Central Schools get breakfast and lunch free of charge. Children eat breakfast and lunch in our full day UPK classrooms. Meals are served family-style which means we try to achieve the feeling one would get if they sat down to a meal with their family at a dinner table. Meals will be served in the classroom. Staff and children will sit down together. Children will learn self-help skills as they serve themselves and pass the food. They will socialize, learn about nutrition and practice table manners.

Does my child have to attend five days a week?

If my child receives preschool special education services, are they eligible for UPK?

Registration Questions? Contact Central Registration
Barbara Yox, Central Registration Clerk
362-3030

Program Questions? Contact the Pre-K Office
Karen Redding, PreK Coordinator
362-4184
Office hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. You can expect a reply on those days.

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