• Universal Prekindergarten

    Act 166 of 2014 provides for universal access to publicly funded prekindergarten education. All public and private prekindergarten education programs, including Head Start and public school operated programs, must meet specific requirements to operate a PreK program in Vermont. The Agency of Education, in collaboration with the Agency of Human Services, created administrative rules to guide Act 166 implementation.

     

    For more information regarding Universal Pre-School, click the links to the left and visit the Vermont's Agency of Education webpages.

  • Addison Central School District Preschool Enrollment

    The Addison Central School District Preschool Program is beginning the enrollment process for the 2023-2024 school year. We are asking families interested in a preschool placement for their child to fill out the interest survey, ideally by the end of March. 

    ACSD has two preschool programs - one classroom at Bridport Central School and two classrooms at Mary Hogan Elementary School in Middlebury. Both programs are open to all district residents and families may indicate which site they prefer. Specific information on each of the programs is below.

    The ACSD Preschool Program is open to resident children three to five years old, not yet enrolled in kindergarten. Children need to have turned three by September 1st, 2023 in order to be eligible. The programs run four days/week and generally follow the ACSD school year calendar, with a slightly later start date. 

    Preschoolers will be able to access the school meals program and will have opportunities to explore the facilities within the school. The day consists of a balance of free play, teacher directed activities, along with small and large group activities. There is a short rest time each day. 

    Priority in each classroom is for district children with identified disabilities and children from historically marginalized communities (e.g. low-income, dual language learners, in foster/kin care, homeless, at risk of suspension/expulsion, children of migrant/agricultural workers). We will be using the same selection process as many other local preschools, and our goal is to come up with classes balanced by age, gender, and student profiles. We will not be maintaining a waiting list other than for this year’s class.

    Our classroom teachers are licensed as Early Childhood Educators and Early Childhood Special Educators. Other members of our instructional team include speech/language pathologists, physical and occupational therapists, as needed. We strive to keep the adult-to-child ratio low so that children get the attention they need to progress in their development.

    Our curriculum is aligned with the Vermont Early Learning Standards (VELS) and follows the Primary Years Program of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Schools. The IB Mission is “to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect”.

    If you choose to apply, please fill out the interest survey. Completing the interest form does not ensure acceptance. We plan to complete the selection process and notify families by April 15th.

    BRIDPORT CENTRAL SCHOOL PRESCHOOL PROGRAM INFORMATION:

    Bridport Central School
    3442 VT 22A
    Bridport, VT 05734
    802-758-2331

    Bridport offers one multi-aged preschool classroom. We anticipate it will operate Monday through Thursday from 7:45 am – 2:45 pm. Bus transportation will be available to families within Bridport. 

    For additional information and/or to visit the preschool, contact

    Heather Adams, Preschool Director, at (802) 758-2331 or hadams@acsdvt.org

     

    MARY HOGAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRESCHOOL PROGRAM INFORMATION:

    Mary Hogan School
    201 Mary Hogan Drive
    Middlebury, VT 05753
    802-388-4421

    The Mary Hogan Preschool Program offers two multi-aged classrooms. We anticipate that they will operate Monday through Thursday from 8:15 am – 2:15 pm, with half-day or three-day options available if mutually agreed upon. There will be no school bus transportation.

    For additional information and/or to visit the preschool, contact

    Kim Forbes, Preschool Director, at 382-1438 or kforbes@acsdvt.org 

     

    UNIVERSAL PREK INFORMATION

    Since school-based programming is limited, we encourage your family to consider other preschool options. Under Act 166, our district partners with prequalified private preschool programs to pay tuition for 10 hours/week, 35 weeks/year of preschool in those settings.  This means that your child could attend these private programs with a tuition discount. Your first step if you are interested in this program would be to enroll with the program directly, and then they will help you to complete the preschool tuition paperwork.

    There is more information about which local programs have met the quality standards for partnership at: https://mbaker61.wixsite.com/uprek/partners   

    For additional information, contact Meg Baker at mbaker@acsdvt.org or 382-0045