Natick Integrated Preschool Frequently Asked Questions:
Q : Who do I contact if I have questions about the lottery, enrollment, registration or programming at Natick Integrated Preschool?
A: Cori Jacomme, Interim Preschool Director can be reached at cjacomme@natickps.org. You can also reach April Davenport, the administrative assistant located at Natick High School, at adavenport@natickps.org or 508-647-6583.
Q: Can I request a preschool classroom at a specific location if I have other children at that school?
A: Unfortunately we are unable to honor such requests. Students not found eligible for special education services attend on a “space available” basis, and are chosen by lottery when demand exceeds available spaces. Special education students are assigned to preschool classrooms based on their needs.
Q: If my child receives special education services as a preschooler, are they automatically eligible for inclusion in the Natick Public Schools (NPS) Preschool? A: Not necessarily. Your child’s IEP team will determine whether the services which your child requires must be delivered in a preschool environment, or whether they are stand alone services.
Q: My child will not turn 3 until after September 1. Can my child still be considered for preschool?
A: We try to be consistent with the Massachusetts regulations for later public kindergarten admission. A student must be 5 by August 31 of the year that the student is entering kindergarten; consequently, applicants for typical preschool slots must be 3 before August 31. The only exception would be a special education student requiring services delivered within the preschool setting. In that instance, regulations require that the District make special education services available by or on the student’s third birthday.
Q: Is preschool screening required for entrance into the Natick Public Schools Preschool?
A: Students who have been receiving services from Early Intervention would receive individual eligibility determination evaluations, and so would not require preschool screening. At this time (as of November 2025) there is no screening process implemented at the preschool for community peers student to take part in prior to their attendance at Natick’s Integrated Preschool. Once in attendance, however, as part of what is referred to as Child Find, regular progress monitoring and systems for universal screening can help determine if there are areas where your child might require further evaluation.
Q: Is everyone who applies offered admission to the preschool?
A: Unfortunately, no. The NPS Integrated Preschool must provide needed services to preschool special education students requiring specialized instruction within the preschool environment. For students without disabilities (referred to as “community peers”), there are a finite number of openings. The number of community peers is limited in order to maintain a ratio of 51% nondisabled: 49% students with disabilities, which is the proportion required by state and federal regulations. When there are more community peers applying for admission, a lottery system is used.
Q: The preschool hours are not compatible with my work schedule. Are other hours an option?
A: The NPS Integrated Preschool hours for community peers (students without disabilities) can not be adjusted. Some families may find that the hours and number of available days in other quality preschools in the area are a better fit for their family’s needs.