Photo caption: Worcester Public Schools’ preschool-age students in the fall of 2025. (Photo by Kyle Prudhomme/WPS)
WORCESTER – Thursday, February 12, 2026 – The Worcester Public Schools (WPS) will create 75 additional full-time preschool (Pre-K) seats at five schools and launch a targeted preschool special education support program for 108 preschool-age students in a cost-neutral move that will better serve the needs of the city’s youngest learners.
Students are selected for Pre-K through an annual randomized lottery process; the application form opened on February 9 on worcesterschools.org/enrollment for the 2026-27 year, which begins in September. 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.
Additionally, preschool-age children may attend Worcester Head Start, which is operated by WPS, if they meet federal income guidelines 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.
WPS is able to create more full-day Pre-K openings by repositioning half-day program seats. There are continuous vacancies in half-day Pre-K while full-day programs are consistently at capacity.
In 2026-27, WPS will have a total of 12 schools with full-day Pre-K. The five new schools are McGrath, Vernon Hill, Gates Lane, and Norrback Avenue elementary schools, and Worcester Technical High School, where professional faculty along with high school students in the Early Childhood Education program operate the site.
The following schools will continue to provide full-day Pre-K: City View, Clark Street, Goddard, Jacob Hiatt, and Nelson Place elementary schools, along with South High Community School, where high school students and professional staff operate two programs. Worcester Dual Language Magnet School offers a two-way English-Spanish full-day program as well.
Of the 75 additional full-day Pre-K seats, 35 will be for students receiving Special Education services.
Separately, the new targeted preschool special education program, called Communication and Readiness Enhancement (CARE), will be offered to 108 preschool-age children who are not enrolled in Pre-K but found eligible for special education services for needs around speech and language, motor skills, and school readiness delays. Families would have to be referred to CARE by the Special Education Department following an early childhood assessment and issuance of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
In CARE, children will receive individualized teaching in small groups to support the needs outlined in their IEP, and/or services such as speech language therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.
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