PRE-REGISTRATION FOR PRESCHOOL
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS HAS BEEN EXTENDED THROUGH APRIL 30, 2020
APPLICATIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE BEGINNING
THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020
(CHILDREN MUST BE 4 YEARS OLD BY OCTOBER 15, 2020 TO BE ELIGIBLE)
To complete registration for Preschool you must complete all 4 STEPS:
STEP 1 Pre-registration
Pre-Registration forms will be accepted from March 26 – April 30, 2020.
Registration forms will be available online beginning Thursday, March 26.
Return completed Pre-Registration forms by Mail to:
South Portland Schools
Preschool Program
130 Wescott Road
South Portland, Maine
**Registration forms may also be emailed to: registrations@spsdme.org
Applications received after April 30 will be placed on a wait list.
STEP 2 Preschool Selection by Lottery will occur during the week of May 11, 2020
If there are more applications than spots, students are selected by lottery. Approval for our preschool program, from the Maine DOE, is based on priority being given to ensure that 60% of students served qualify for free or reduced price meals and 15% qualify for CDS services. We have 57 spots available in three programs: two preschool classrooms at Kaler School (total of 32 students), one at Skillin School (total of 16 students) and 9 reserved spaces for students at Roots & Fruits, an NAEYC Accredited preschool in Red Bank. We provide transportation to students from the Skillin, Brown and Kaler School districts to Skillin or Kaler. We do not provide transportation to Roots & Fruits. We reserve the right to assign students to schools outside their K-5 district to ensure ability to place and transport students.
Students who receive a slot will be notified by mail no later than May 29, 2020. Students who have submitted an application by the April 30 deadline and are placed on a wait list will also be notified by mail no later than May 29, 2020.
STEP 3 Student Enrollment
Once your child has been accepted into the Preschool program, you will be given instructions on how to formally register your child for the upcoming school year. To secure your child’s spot in our Preschool program, you must complete the formal enrollment process prior to June 15, 2020. If this enrollment deadline is not met, your child’s name will be placed on the wait list.
STEP 4 Preschool Developmental Screening
Your child’s preschool teacher will provide you with the date and time of your child’s developmental screening and arrange for a home visit.
Bus transportation through the South Portland School Department will only be available for preschoolers residing in the Kaler, Brown, and Skillin neighborhoods. Transportation for all other preschoolers, including those attending Roots & Fruits, will be the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
The South Portland School Department is unable to guarantee transport to or from Day Care Centers.
All South Portland Schools will be closed for students until May 1st. Before and after care programs at our elementary schools, including South Portland Recreation, will also close during this time. All clubs and sports activities are also suspended. Additionally, all outside facility uses will be suspended during this time.
