By Tiffany Williams –
WORCESTER, Mass. — Worcester Public Schools will add 75 full-time preschool seats at five schools and launch a new targeted special education support program for 108 preschool-age children in a cost-neutral expansion designed to better serve the district’s youngest learners.
The added seats will bring full-day Pre-K to 12 schools for the 2026-27 academic year, which begins in September. The five new schools offering full-day Pre-K are McGrath, Vernon Hill, Gates Lane and Norrback Avenue elementary schools, along with Worcester Technical High School, where professional faculty and high school students in the Early Childhood Education program operate the site.
Full-day Pre-K will continue at City View, Clark Street, Goddard, Jacob Hiatt and Nelson Place elementary schools, as well as South High Community School, where high school students and professional staff operate two programs.
Of the 75 additional full-day Pre-K seats, 35 will be designated for students receiving Special Education services.
Students are selected through an annual randomized lottery process. The application form opened Feb. 9 on worcesterschools.org/enrollment for the 2026-27 school year. Families may also call the Parent Information Center at 508-799-3194.
For preschool-age children who have a disability or suspected disability, parents are asked to contact the WPS Special Education Department for an assessment prior to applying for Pre-K or enrolling in school. Preschool-age children who meet federal income guidelines may attend Worcester Head Start, which is operated by WPS, following an application process.
“Full-day preschool and targeted special education support ensure children enter kindergarten prepared and ready to learn,” Superintendent Brian E. Allen said. “We believe this expansion will make a significant difference in creating positive educational outcomes in elementary school.”
“It’s clear families want expanded full-day preschool and we are working to continuously grow this option,” Allen added.
District officials said the expansion is being achieved by repositioning half-day program seats. There are continuous vacancies in half-day Pre-K while full-day programs are consistently at capacity.
In addition to the expanded seats, the district will introduce a new preschool special education initiative called Communication and Readiness Enhancement, or CARE. The program will serve 108 preschool-age children who are not enrolled in Pre-K but are found eligible for special education services related to speech and language, motor skills and school readiness delays.
Families must be referred to CARE by the Special Education Department following an early childhood assessment and issuance of an Individualized Education Plan.
Children enrolled in CARE will receive individualized instruction in small groups aligned with the needs outlined in their IEPs and may receive services such as speech language therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy.
District officials said the move expands access to full-day preschool and targeted special education services without increasing overall costs, addressing demand while focusing on early childhood readiness.