• The Greenwich Public Schools Integrated Preschool Program targets instruction for children with identified special needs alongside their typically developing peers. 
• The GPS Integrated Preschool Program was developed 50 years ago in alignment with special education laws to provide free and appropriate public education for preschool students.
• Our teachers are dually certified by the State of Connecticut in both Special Education and General Education.
• The Greenwich Public Schools Integrated Preschool Program is a structured, center-based program, where each child participates in instructional activities/experiences, which address the areas of communication, cognition, self-help, fine/gross motor and social emotional development. The curriculums utilized are Creative Curriculum, Fundations, and Second Step.
• Tuition fees apply for the GPS Preschool Program

The GPS Integrated preschool program adheres to the Connecticut Early Learning Development Standards that promote:

• Equity for all children, through setting high, but appropriate, expectations;
• High quality early learning experiences, by providing clear goals and trajectories for learning;
• Provision of individual support, based on each child’s growth and development; 
• Families’ understanding of what their children are learning and  how they can support them;     
• Teachers’ understanding of age-appropriate content and approaches to children’s learning, and;
• Communication across sectors, based upon these common goals for children.

Age Eligibility for Students

Students who will turn three years old but will NOT turn five years old by September 1st of the following year are eligible to apply for entrance to the GPS Preschool Program. The GPS Preschool follows state guidelines for kindergarten entrance the year that the student reaches their fifth birthday. 

1. The online lottery application must be completed for all new students whose parents wish to apply to the Greenwich Public Schools Preschool Program. Students currently attending the Greenwich Public Schools Preschool Program who are eligible to attend preschool for another year DO NOT NEED TO REAPPLY.
   1. Lottery application for the 2026-2027 school year coming late 2025
2. Please indicate which age/gender lottery you are entering for your child based on their age as of September 1, 2025.  There are four (4) separate lotteries:  3 year old female, 3 year old male, 4 year old female, 4 year old male
3. There are currently preschool classrooms located at the following schools: Cos Cob, Hamilton Avenue (magnet), Julian Curtiss (magnet), New Lebanon (magnet), North Street School, Old Greenwich School, please note that site location can not be guaranteed.
4. Please indicate your rank order preference among the preschool locations.  Please also indicate any locations which you are NOT interested in.
5. Students will be accepted into schools based on maintaining balanced classes (age and gender). Please note, town residents and employees are eligible to attend however town residents will have priority over town employees. For Hamilton Avenue, Julian Curtiss, and New Lebanon schools:
   1. First Priority - Siblings of youngsters who are presently enrolled in the preschool program (and will continue in the program as a 4 year old for the next school year) and siblings of Magnet K-4 students presently enrolled at the Hamilton Avenue School, New Lebanon School, or Julian Curtiss School will have priority status for a vacancy in a preschool class. These students are not placed in the lottery system.
   2. Second Priority - Remaining vacancies in the Hamilton Avenue, Julian Curtiss or New Lebanon Preschool classes will initially be filled with youngsters who live within their respective school attendance areas.
6. If more than one child in a family is applying to the preschool program, each child must complete a separate lottery application. There is no guarantee that all children applying from one family will be accepted.
7. Parents will be contacted if/when they receive a placement in one of our preschool classes. You may be contacted up until August for placement due to ongoing enrollment.
8. You will have 5 days to provide payment information to confirm your child’s acceptance in the preschool program.
9. A waitlist will be maintained based on age and gender. If you decline your initial placement you will be removed from the waitlist for any school.
10. Read complete details regarding Preschool Admission in Regulation 6171R.

If you have any additional questions, you may call the Preschool Office at 203-698-7796

Tuition rates are approved by the Board of Education annually in February.  The GPS Preschool program is tuition based. 

Tuition Rates

Curriculum

In an effort to ensure we are providing our students with the most up-to-date research based instruction, we utilize the following curriculums.  Following a presentation to the Board of Education, Creative Curriculum for Preschool was implemented. Creative Curriculum is designed to inspire children through project based and investigative learning.

To help build a foundation of literacy for our students, we utilize Fundations Reading Program from Wilson. Fundations is research based and utilizes a multi-sensory approach to reading, writing, and spelling instruction.  Fundations lessons are given on a daily basis in all of our preschool classrooms. This directly connects to the reading programs used in our elementary schools.

Toileting

Independent toileting and self help skills are strongly encouraged when entering the preschool program. When entering our program it is important to communicate your child’s level of training in order to ensure carry over of skills from home to school.  If your child is not toilet trained, pull ups, wipes, and gloves will need to be provided to the school.

Clothing

Each day children should wear comfortable, washable play clothes to school.

• Sneakers or rubber-soled shoes are recommended for classroom and outdoor play. If your child wears snow boots to school please send shoes in their backpack.
• Please dress your child according to the weather with appropriate outerwear.  Mittens, hats, snow pants, boots and scarves should be clearly labeled with your child’s name.  For safety please be sure that mittens, hats and jackets do not have hanging strings.

Before the school year begins, your child’s teacher will communicate the supplies they will need for the school year.

Parents, community preschools and/or the Connecticut Birth to 3 program may initiate a preschool referral to the special education process. Referrals to this process may be made throughout the school year. Team decisions regarding evaluation, eligibility, and recommendations for appropriate educational programming and placement are determined at Planning and Placement Team (PPT) meetings.  Parents are important members of the PPT process.  Once a student is determined eligible to receive Special Education services, an Individualized Education Program (IEP), developed and educational programming determined.

Lori Costa
Intake Coordinator
lori_costa@greenwich.k12.ct.us

Sabrina Motta
Speech and Language Pathologist
sabrina_motta@greenwich.k12.ct.us

The following are resources available to families of student with disabilities. Some of these services are available through your Parent Teacher Association Council (PTAC)/ Educational Differences Support (EDS) Committee School Representatives.

Request for Assistance (RFA) Form:   
English Version  | Spanish Version

Hello Kindergarten! brochure (Spanish version) is a document produced by the CT Office of Early Childhood that is a helpful resource for parents.

District Resources
Parents as Partners Handbook English | Spanish

Procedural Safeguards

CT Early Learning and Development Standards

Sparkler sparks healthy early development for children (0-5) and families in Connecticut. Check in on your child’s development and get a library of 1000+ play activities just right for your child’s age. Get regular coaching and advice. Sparkler is in English and Spanish, for iOS or Android.
Sparkler Registration Directions - English -- Sparkler Registration Directions - Spanish

In order to provide the receiving Kindergarten team with the most updated academic information related to the incoming student, please complete the K profile | español.  The information should be emailed directly to the assistant principals at the receiving elementary school no later than May 1, 2026. 

Please see the table below for the name and email address for each of the assistant principals.  Should you have any questions about the student's home school, please refer to the GPS School Finder.

Hello Kindergarten! brochure (Spanish) is a document produced by the CT Office of Early Childhood that is a helpful resource for parents.