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Special Education/Student Support Services » Little Cardinals Learning Center (Pre-K 3-4 Program)

Little Cardinals Learning Center (Pre-K 3-4 Program)

Integrated Preschool Program 

 

In accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, children at the age of 3 may be eligible to receive Special Education or Related Services through their public school. Region 16  Public Schools provides those services on a continuum which includes an integrated preschool located at Prospect Elementary School.  If you think your child may be eligible for these services, please refer to the Child Find section below or contact Region 16 District Office, Special Services Department at 203-758-6671.

 

The Integrated Preschool program has typically developing children who turn 3 and 4 years old by September 1st of the school year they will attend and serve as community peers or models for the students who require special education. Applications are available online using the forms below to be submitted starting January 29th and will remain open until the program is full.

 
 
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM UPDATE FOR FAMILIES (See the below flyers for more information)

The District is currently reviewing potential updates to our Pre-K programing for the upcoming school year, pending budget approval. As part of this review, the District is considering a transition to a tuition-based 5 day a week program for 3 and 4 year olds. This Pre-K model would include a half-day (8:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.) for 3 year olds and a full-day (8:45 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.) for 4 year olds.

Under the proposed structure:

  • Three-year-old students will be eligible for consideration for a half-day Pre-K program, with enrollment determined through a lottery-based, tuition-based system, contingent upon final budget approval.
  1. Applications will be accepted beginning on January 29, 2026 and will remain open until the program is filled and then names will be transitioned to a waitlist. 
  2. Tuition will be $2,000.00 for the school year.
  3. Transportation will be offered for an additional $1,550.00 for the school year.

  • Four-year-old students will be eligible for consideration for a full-day Pre-K program, with enrollment determined through a lottery-based, tuition-based system, contingent upon final budget approval.
  1. Applications will be accepted beginning on January 29, 2026 and will remain open until the program is filled and then names will be transitioned to a waitlist. 
  2. Tuition will be $3,750.00 for the school year.
  3. Transportation will be offered for an additional $1,550.00 for the school year.

Parents interested in either Pre-K option are encouraged to apply through the Pre-K lottery, which will open on Thursday, January 29, 2026. Submission of a lottery application does not guarantee placement and will be used for consideration based on program availability and budget approval.

At this time, no final decisions have been made. The Region 16 School District remains committed to keeping families informed and will share additional details, including tuition rates, program locations, enrollment procedures, and program confirmation, as they become available.

We appreciate your continued partnership and interest in our early childhood programs.

 

PRESCHOOL LOTTERY INFORMATION

 

In order to be placed in the lottery, please send the following documents to [email protected] or mail to Region 16 School District, 30 Coer Road, Prospect, CT 06712, Attention: Special Services Department. 

 

Preschool Application Form (see forms below)

Preschool Proof of Residency

Certification of Residency (only if applicable)

 

Lottery Drawing Information: 

  1. The lottery drawing will take place by the end of April.
  2. The number of available spots for typical role-model children varies each year. 
  3. Every child is placed on the preschool list in the exact order in which his/her name is drawn. 
  4. During the week following the drawing all parents will be notified if their child was chosen. If your child was not chosen, they will remain on the list should another family decline.

Applications are accepted starting January 29th and will continue on a rolling basis.

 

CHILD FIND

Do you have concerns about your child’s development, speech and language skills, or behavior?  Please complete the Parent Information form below.

Preschool Parent and Child Information Form (see forms below)

Preschool Proof of Residency

Certification of Residency (only if applicable)


After receiving the completed forms, a member of the preschool team will contact you to determine the appropriate next steps for your child.

Developmental evaluations are completed by our preschool team which includes special education teachers, a speech and language pathologist, a school psychologist, occupational therapist, and/or physical therapist.  Evaluations take place by appointment in a preschool environment with other preschool aged children.

Possibilities may include, information about age appropriate levels of development, suggestions of activities to engage typically developing children in the home, a nursery school/daycare observation/consultation or a referral to special education.  If a referral to special education is made, you will be invited to a Planning and Placement Team meeting that will consider if an evaluation for special education is needed.  If an evaluation is needed, the evaluation is free.  An evaluation is done when there are concerns regarding a child's development, speech and language skills, and/or behavior that may result in the child having an educational disability that requires special education.