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About The ECEC Integrated PreSchool Program

  • The preschool program at the Curran Early Childhood Education Center is designed under an integrated model, which means that all of our classes are planned - first and foremost - to meet the identified special needs of our very youngest learners. Once the process of meeting all of the identified special needs of these students is accomplished, we complement the pre-kindergarten class rosters with typically-developing students under a lottery system and with a tuition schedule. Because of the integrated preschool model, ALL of the preschool teachers at the ECEC must hold dual state teaching certifications and have earned licenses in both early childhood education and special education.

    For the ECEC three-year-old program, a child must be three years old on or before September 1st of the intended school year.

    Similarly, for the four-year-old program, a child must be four years old on or before September 1st of the targeted school year.

    Typically-developing students also must be toilet-trained in order to be considered (no exceptions).

2023-2024 Program Tuition

  • 24-25 Tuition (subject to change yearly):

    • 2 Full days $3,497.00 yearly
    • 3 Full days $5,246.00 yearly
    • 5 Full days $8,742.00 yearly
    • 5 Half AM or PM days $4,372.00 yearly

    *A $75.00 non-refundable registration fee is due once your child has secured a placement.

Preschool Application & Lottery Process

  • Due to the structure of the ECEC integrated model described above, there are ALWAYS significantly more typically-developing students applying for admission than there are available seats. A lottery is the simplest and most equitable way to allocate those limited seats.

    Applications for the Preschool program will be available and open for the entire month of November 2023 for the 2024-2025 school year.  The lottery for the 2023-2024 school year has ended.

    A Google doc application will be posted to the ECEC website on November 1st. Applicants can request a hard copy application from the ECEC if they are unable to complete the Google doc application.

    The application deadline is 3:30 pm on the last day of November.  The annual ECEC preschool lottery will be held virtually on December 8th, 2023.  Two lotteries will be conducted: One is restricted to applicants for upcoming three-year-old programming and the other is for those seeking admittance to the program as four-year-olds.  

    Families will be notified shortly after the lottery if they have secured a spot for their child. A link will be sent to families who register for the lottery a few days before the drawing so that they can watch it live.  Results will not be given out over the telephone or by email inquiries.  Families must wait for the official notification from Mrs. Kerrigan if they do not watch the lottery drawing..

    An information night will be held at the ECEC School, 1100 High Street, Dedham, MA sometime in the fall.  The date will be posted on our website.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Preschool Program & Application Process

  • Is before/after care available to students in ECEC preschool programs?

  • Is there an advantage to submitting an application early?

  • Why do you need to conduct a preschool lottery?

  • How are the lottery names chosen?

  • Is preference given to siblings of existing ECEC students?

  • If my child secures a placement in the lottery, do I automatically get my choice of preschool program for my child?

  • If a child is accepted through the lottery as a three-year-old, must that same child re-apply through the lottery system for the following year?

  • What happens if my child’s name is NOT selected in the lottery?

  • If you have so many applicants for your programs, why wouldn’t you just create more preschool sections to accommodate them?

  • What is DELTA?

  • What is the process to be placed at DELTA?