By What’s Up Worcester Staff
WORCESTER — The Worcester Public Schools announced plans on Thursday to expand early childhood education offerings for the upcoming academic year. The district will create 75 additional full-time preschool seats across five schools and launch a new targeted support program for students with special needs.
According to the district, the expansion is a cost-neutral operational shift designed to better meet the needs of Worcester’s youngest students. The changes will take effect for the 2026-27 school year, which begins in September.
Shift to Full-Day Programming Superintendent Brian E. Allen stated that the district is able to create the new full-day openings by repositioning existing half-day program seats. The district noted that while full-day programs are consistently at capacity, there are continuous vacancies in half-day sections.
“Full-day preschool and targeted special education support ensure children enter kindergarten prepared and ready to learn,” Allen said in a press release. “We believe this expansion will make a significant difference in creating positive educational outcomes in elementary school.”
In the 2026-27 school year, a total of 12 schools will offer full-day preschool. The five schools adding full-day seats are McGrath, Vernon Hill, Gates Lane, and Norrback Avenue elementary schools, as well as Worcester Technical High School. At Worcester Tech, the program is operated by professional faculty alongside high school students in the Early Childhood Education program.
These locations join the existing full-day programs at City View, Clark Street, Goddard, Jacob Hiatt, and Nelson Place elementary schools, and South High Community School.
Of the 75 newly created seats, 35 will be specifically reserved for students receiving Special Education services.
New CARE Program for Special Education The district also announced the launch of a new initiative called Communication and Readiness Enhancement (CARE). This targeted program is designed to serve 108 preschool-age children who are eligible for special education services but are not enrolled in a standard preschool classroom.
The CARE program will focus on children with identified needs regarding speech and language, motor skills, or school readiness delays. Students in the program will receive individualized instruction in small groups or specific therapies, such as speech-language, occupational, or physical therapy, based on their Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
Families must be referred to the CARE program by the Special Education Department following an early childhood assessment.
Enrollment Information Selection for general preschool seats is conducted through an annual randomized lottery process. The application window for the 2026-27 school year opened on February 9. Families can apply online through the WPS enrollment page or contact the Parent Information Center at 508-799-3194.
For children with a known or suspected disability, the district advises parents to contact the WPS Special Education Department for an assessment prior to applying for preschool or enrolling in school.
The district also noted that Worcester Head Start, which is operated by WPS, remains an option for families meeting federal income guidelines.
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🔍 The W.U.W. Verification Box
- Project / Topic: Expansion of Full-Day Preschool and CARE Program
- Current Status: Announced February 12, 2026
- Key Dates or Decisions: Lottery application open now; Programs begin Fall 2026
- Estimated Cost: Reported as cost-neutral by WPS
- Timeline: Implementation for 2026-27 academic year
- Immediate Next Steps: Families apply via lottery or schedule assessments
- Primary Sources: Worcester Public Schools Official Press Release; Superintendent Brian E. Allen
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