FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q : Who do I contact if I have questions about preschool?
A: Meghan Ganley (Winthrop School Special Education Program Manager) and Special Education Secretary Josephine Brouillette can be reached at 978-356-2976, x 345. They will be able to address questions you might have regarding classrooms at both schools.
Q: Can I request a preschool classroom at a specific elementary school if I have other children at that school?
A: Unfortunately we are unable to honor such requests. Students not found eligible for special education services attend on a “space available” basis, and are chosen by lottery when demand exceeds available spaces. Special education students are assigned to preschool classrooms based on their needs.
Q: If my child receives special education services as a preschooler, are they automatically eligible for inclusion in the Ipswich Public Schools (IPS) Preschool? A: Not necessarily. Your child’s IEP team will determine whether the services which your child requires must be delivered in a preschool environment, or whether they are stand alone services.
Q: My child will not turn 3 until after September 1. Can my child still be considered for preschool?
A: We try to be consistent with the Massachusetts regulations for later public kindergarten admission. A student must be 5 by September 1 of the year that the student is entering kindergarten; consequently, applicants for typical preschool slots must be 3 before September 1. The only exception would be a special education student requiring services delivered within the preschool setting. In that instance, regulations require that the District make special education services available by the student’s third birthday.
Q: Is preschool screening required for entrance into the Ipswich Public Schools Preschool?
A: Students who have been receiving services from Early Intervention would receive individual eligibility determination evaluations, and so would not require preschool screening. We encourage parents who would like to have their child enter the preschool as a typical student to take part in the free preschool screening. As part of what is referred to as Child Find, this screening can help determine if there are areas where your child might require further evaluation.
Q: Is everyone who applies offered admission to the preschool?
A: Unfortunately, no. The IPS Preschool must provide needed services to preschool special education students requiring specialized instruction within the preschool environment. For students without disabilities, there are a finite number of openings. The number of students without disabilities is limited in order to maintain a ratio of 51% nondisabled: 49% students with disabilities, which is the proportion required by state and federal regulations. When there are more students without disabilities (referred to as “typical” or “role model” students) applying for admission, a lottery system is used.
Q: The preschool hours are not compatible with my work schedule. Are other hours an option?
A: The IPS Preschool hours for students without disabilities can’t be adjusted. Some families may find that the hours and number of available days in other quality preschools in the area are a better fit for their family’s needs.