Additional settings for Safari Browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) Frequently Asked Questions
General:
Is the UPK program under the supervision of the Sachem School District?
The Sachem School District has partnered with SCOPE to organize and lead our UPK program.
What is Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK)?
UPK is a preschool experience made possible through grants from the New York State Education Department (NYSED). As long as the funding remains available and the district has the human resources and classroom space available, the district can offer the program.
Is the UPK program free?
Yes. The grant pays for the cost of tuition students.
Does the program follow the district calendar?
As UPK students, children are considered new entrants to the Sachem School District and must attend the program five days a week for the entire school year. Excessive absences may result in your child being dropped from the program. The program will follow the Sachem calendar including holidays, recess, and snow days.
Will transportation be provided?
The district will not provide transportation. Transportation to and from the program is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
Eligibility:
How old do you have to be to be eligible for the program?
Each child must be four (4) years old on or before December 1, 2026 (born between December 2, 2021, and December 1, 2022).
Can I send my Kindergarten aged child to the UPK program instead of kindergarten?
No, the UPK program only serves children who are four (4) years old.
My child will not be four (4) by the cut-off date; can they still attend?
No, to attend UPK a child must be four (4) years old on or before December 1, 2026.
What are the address criteria?
Each child must reside within the boundaries of the Sachem School District.
What are the immunization requirements?
Children must receive all first age/grade level appropriate doses or overdue follow-up doses if they already received initial doses in a series within 14 days from the first day of instruction for the school year. They must provide evidence of age-appropriate appointments for the follow-up doses, per the ACIP schedule, within 30 days of the first day of attendance.
Application/Lottery:
How do I register for the lottery?
Applications for the lottery can be found on the district’s website at Sachem Website Link.
The deadline to apply for the lottery is Friday, February 27, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.
Will submitting my child’s application on the first day improve their chances of being selected?
No. All applications submitted by the due date will be included in the lottery. The students chosen are picked randomly.
How does the lottery work?
Following the closing of the lottery, February 27, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., the students’ names will be sent to an outside agency that will randomize the list and send it back to the district. If your child is selected, you will receive a letter in the mail with information on when and how to register with Sachem.
How are twins, triplets, or siblings of the same age handled regarding the lottery process?
Each child must have their own application filled out. Twins and triplets are treated as separate entries. If one child is accepted into the lottery and the other is not, a paid tuition spot will be offered, and the children will be placed in the same location.
What if my child is not accepted into the lottery?
Any child not selected in the lottery will be placed on the waiting list. If for any reason someone who wins the lottery does not complete the registration process, we will notify the next person on the waiting list.
How does the waiting list work?
If a child drops out of the UPK program for any reason the next family on the waiting list will be offered the vacant spot. If the family declines the vacancy for any reason, they will be removed from the waiting list. The process will continue until all available spots are filled.
How do I register my child for UPK?
Registration information will be sent out in the mail as part of the notification process. Failure to completely register by the due date in the letter will be considered a declination and the next person on the waiting list will be called to take your spot.
Please do not complete an online registration until you receive notification that your child has been selected. Any online registrations completed before the lottery selection will be automatically deleted.
Can I choose my child’s location and time for UPK?
School selection and time preference will be considered but not guaranteed.
Will there be any informational meetings where I can learn more about the program?
SCOPE will hold an open house meeting on February 11, 2026, at
10:00 a.m. via ZOOM. Please click the link below to join the ZOOM meeting.