Universal PreK for Parents

Universal Prekindergarten (UPK)

Publicly Funded Preschool Program

Parent Information Form

What is publicly funded preschool?

• Publicly funded preschool is defined as ten hours per week (35 weeks per school year September-June) of developmentally appropriate early learning experiences based on Vermont's Early Learning Standards.
• The cost of ten hours per week of preschool is covered by the school district the child resides in.

Who is eligible for publicly funded preschool?

• Children who are 3, 4, and 5 years old and not yet in Kindergarten, and turn three by the cut off date for Kindergarten in their town are eligible to attend any pre-qualified preschool program in the State of Vermont. Town districts in the Windham Southwest Supervisory Union include: Wilmington, Whitingham, Stamford, Readsboro, Halifax, and Searsburg.

What programs are prequalified in my region?

School-based Pre-K

1. Readsboro Central School Preschool Readsboro Residents only 4-5 year olds Full Day Program with Kindergarten. 3 year olds Half Day program (PM) with Kindergarten.

2. Twin Valley Elementary School Preschool Whitingham and Wilmington residents only for 4 year olds only. Four-a-half-day program. Not available for 2020-2021.

3. Stamford School Preschool-Stamford Residents 4 year olds only. Half day program.

Private-basedPublicly Funded Pre-K

1. Readsboro Preschool Incorporated, Readsboro
2. Mount Snow Child Care, West Dover. May not be available due to covid pandemic.
3. Kids in the Country Preschool, East Dover
4. Beaver Brook Children's School, Wilmington beaverbrookschool@gmail.com, Old School Community Center, Fall 2021

OR Any other prequalified program in Vermont - Check the list of Providers

 

What is responsibility of parents?

• Parents are responsible to enroll their child in one of the prequalified programs in the State of Vermont.

• Parents are responsible for child care above the 10 hours per week (35 weeks per school year September-June) if preschool program offers such options and parents use that option. (Subsidy or Child Care and Development Block Grant- does not cover the 10 hours paid for by the Windham Southwest Supervisory Union. Subsidy may cover the child care portion above 10 hours a week. For more information contact VERMONT’S CHILD CARE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM at Winston Prouty in Brattleboro. See website: http://winstonprouty.org/ccfap/

• Parents are responsible for returning registration paperwork to the public school secretary in the town they live with all required documents, (i.e., birth certificate, immunization records and proof of residency) In the case of Searsburg, return to the Central Office.

• Parents are responsible for filling out required forms for the Windham Southwest Supervisory Union and return registration paperwork to their public school including:

1. Complete Parent Registration Application form
2. Copy of birth certificate
3. Copy of immunization record
4. Proof of residency form
5. Copy of Custody Agreement (Only required for parents who are separated or divorced).
6. Parent Consent release information between preschool program partner and

Windham Southwest Supervisory Union form

What is responsibility of preschool partners programs?

• Qualifying preschool partners will provide a developmentally appropriate curriculum aligned with the Vermont Early Learning Standards (VELS), for 10 hours a week for 35 weeks.
• They must complete developmental assessments twice a year. The state of Vermont has adopted Teaching Strategies GOLD checkpoints.
• Qualifying preschool partners are also responsible for communicating child's attendance and attending required teacher training meetings at Windham Southwest Supervisory Union.
• Qualifying preschool partners are responsible for
• Notifying the WSWSU when a child moves out of the district or changes providers.

What is the responsibility of School District?

• The Windham Southwest Supervisory Union will inform parents residing in eligible towns of the availability of preschool program partners.
• Windham Southwest Supervisory Union will provide consultation, training to preschool program partners and pay the current yearly rate per child for 10 hours per week for 35 weeks per September-June school year. All monies will go directly to the preschool.

How do families apply?

Families must enroll their child with a qualifying Preschool Program Partner and complete all WSWSU Registration information. Return registration paperwork to the public school.

Registration for Publicly Funded Preschool Program will be available at:

• Each Public School-Each listed below.
• Partner Program Providers
• Windham Southwest Supervisory Union 464-1300

Central Office
1 School Street
Wilmington, VT 05363

Twin Valley Elementary School

Phone  802-464-5177 
Fax   802-464-1246 

360 Rt 100 North        
Wilmington, VT 05363

Principal, Rebecca Fillion,  rfillion@tves.k12.vt.us
Administrative Assistant,  Lia Kinglsey  lkingsley@tves.k12.vt.us

Halifax School

Phone  802-368-2888
Fax  802-368-7847

246 Branch Rd.            
West Halifax, VT 05358

Principal, Sandra Pentak-Cohen, spentak@halifaxschool.net 
Administrative Assistant,  Tanya Cahill  halifaxschool@halifaxschool.net

Readsboro Central School

Phone  802-423-7786
Fax  802-423-9914 

301 Phelps Lane        
Readsboro, VT 05350

Principal, Robyn C. Oyer, royer@readsborocentralschool.net 
Administrative Assistant,  Alexandra Filiault,  afiliault@readsborocentralschool.net 

Stamford Elementary School

Phone  802-694-1379
Fax  802-694-8512

986 Main Rd                
Stamford, VT 05352

Principal, Randy Lichtenwalner,  rlichtenwalner@stamfordelementary.com 
Administrative Assistant, Maya Miller mmiller@stamfordelementary.com