Inclusive Preschool Program

The Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School District offers Inclusive Preschool Classroom Programs for children, ages 3-4 who require special education services, and those who do not. Inclusion in preschool refers to including children with disabilities in early childhood programs together with their community peers without disabilities, holding high expectations and intentionally promoting participation in all learning and social activities facilitated by individualized accommodations and using evidence-based services and supports to foster child development in the areas of cognition, language, communication, physical, behavioral, and social-emotional, as well as fostering friendships with peers, and an overall sense of belonging. 

 

Instruction for all children is developmentally appropriate and aligned with the Massachusetts Guidelines for Preschool Early Learning Standards.  

For the 2023-2024 school year, AWRSD will have Inclusive Preschool Programming located at both the John R. Briggs Elementary School in Ashburnham and the Meetinghouse School in Westminster. Students will attend preschool in their town of residence. 

 

 

There are a limited number of spots available for community peers. Community peers must be age three as of September 1, 2023 and should have skills that are considered typically developing for their age.

 

Transportation is the responsibility of the family. There will be no tuition charged for the 2023-2024 school year.

 

For the 2023-2024 school year, the preschool will offer the following options for community peers:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If there are more applicants than spots available for community peers, a lottery will be held. The lottery will be completed by the registration system.  

 

Siblings of current Learning Tree preschool students who will continue to be in the Learning Tree preschool for the 2023-2024 year, will be placed in the preschool program applied to prior to the lottery, provided space is available. Completion of an application is still required for siblings.

 

Families will be notified of their child’s acceptance by May 5, 2023. A wait list will be maintained once program capacity has been reached. 

 

If your child is accepted as a community peer into the preschool program, you will receive a link to complete enrollment. Completed enrollment is required by May 19, 2023. Your child’s spot in the program will be forfeited if the enrollment package is not returned by the due date. 

 

Once the process is complete, should your child be waitlisted for the program for which you applied, but openings are available in another program option, you will be contacted. 

 

Please direct questions about the preschool program to Lily Mendonca at [email protected]