About The ECEC Integrated PreSchool Program
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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
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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
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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
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Is before/after care available to students in ECEC preschool programs?
Yes, but only for 4-year-old enrolled preschool students.
Once a student turns 4, they can contact Mrs. Brenda McMurtry (bmcmurtry@dedham.k12.ma.us/781-310-8029), the Childcare Coordinator to see if there are any available spaces or to be placed on a waiting list.
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Is there an advantage to submitting an application early?
There is absolutely no advantage to submitting an application early.
We would much prefer that you take time and carefully complete the application thoughtfully and thoroughly. You have essentially the entire month of November to do just that.
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Why do you need to conduct a preschool lottery?
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.
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How are the lottery names chosen?
The lottery is actually a digital, randomized, sequenced list of the names of all children who have applied for admission as of the lottery’s deadline date.
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Is preference given to siblings of existing ECEC students?
We are not able to give preference to siblings of current ECEC students. All students must be entered into the lottery process.
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If my child secures a placement in the lottery, do I automatically get my choice of preschool program for my child?
Unfortunately, no.
On the preschool application form you will be asked to select and rank your top two preferences for preschool programs.
Because of our integrated preschool model, it is impossible for us to pinpoint at lottery time the specific configurations of our classes heading into the following year. That information will not become evident until sometime in the spring once programmatic needs become more apparent for those preschool children with Individualized Educational Programs (IEPs).
A favorable draw in the lottery, therefore, assures a seat but not necessarily your most desired one.
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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?
No, any three-year-old who continues in the ECEC preschool program will have a guaranteed spot for the following year.
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What happens if my child’s name is NOT selected in the lottery?
Since all of the names are sequenced, a waiting list can be immediately constructed.
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If you have so many applicants for your programs, why wouldn’t you just create more preschool sections to accommodate them?
This is a very common question and there are a couple of answers.
First, space is a consideration. We only have a designated number of preschool classrooms to house the students.
Second, and more important, if we were to devise a PreK section or sections with strictly typically-developing children, we would have built a de-facto private entity within the Public School.
Preschool programming for typically-developing children is not specifically funded through the district’s educational budget.
ECEC preschool programming is underwritten by the tuition
paid by the families of typically-developing students. -
What is DELTA?
DELTA is a preschool program located in Dedham High School.
Our main mission is to provide excellent early learning and childcare services to the teachers and staff members of the Dedham Public Schools. The DELTA program also has the capacity to accommodate a limited number of students from Dedham families who had applied for seats in the integrated preschool program at the Curran Early Childhood Education Center and were assigned to a waitlist through the ECEC’s annual preschool lottery. DELTA is open (school year only) from 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Students must be picked up no later than 4:00 pm.
Any questions regarding the DELTA program should be directed to Samantha Gentile at 781-310-1033 or sgentile@dedham.k12.ma.us.
The tuition for DELTA is: $10,750.00.
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What is the process to be placed at DELTA?
Once we have filled our 5 full day lottery placements at the ECEC we will submit the next names on the waiting list to DELTA for placement in their program. (Only if you indicate yes on the application). DELTA goes by the same waiting list as ECEC.
If you do not indicate an interest in DELTA we will not submit your child’s name to DELTA and you will remain on the ECEC waiting list.
You do have the right to refuse a DELTA placement and remain on the ECEC waiting list.
Any questions regarding the waiting list please contact Mrs. Kerrigan at ckerrigan@dedham.k12.ma.us
