The Orange elementary school system is now accepting names for the blind lottery to enter its 2021-2022 preschool program.
The special education/general education integrated program is looking for both 3 and 4-year-olds to enroll as community peers.
The total cost of tuition for the community peers is $3,250. The preschool program is held five days a week for three hours each day. No transportation is provided for general education community peers.
The program follows the district’s school year calendar: the morning class is held from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and the afternoon class is held from noon to 3 p.m. Each classroom is a blend of 3 and 4-year-old children. Class sizes are limited to a total of 12 students, which includes special education students. By law, students with special needs identified with an individualized education program are placed in the program by the Department of Special Services through the Planning and Placement Team process.
In order to participate in the lottery, a child must be 3 years old but not older than 4 by Dec. 31. All children must be toilet trained and Orange residents. If a child’s third birthday falls between September and December 2021, they will be able to start on their third birthday.
The blind lottery is conducted in two stages. First, all names are randomly selected by age group for the limited number of available spaces, with the remaining names drawn and placed on a waiting list. Then a second drawing determines which children the morning and afternoon classes to balance each classroom by age.
To enter a child in the blind lottery, call the Special Services Department for the Orange Board of Education at 203-891-8023 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Names will be accepted until 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 29. Parents will be mailed a letter of the lottery results by Feb. 8.
A tuition deposit of $325 will reserve a child’s space in the classroom. The deposit is the first month’s tuition for September 2021. Registration paperwork needs to be completed by March 31.