Early Childhood Programs

Special needs students: 

The integrated Preschool Special Needs Program provides special education and related services to 3, 4, and 5-year-old children who are identified by the Planning and Placement Team (PPT) as having a disability. 

• This is a half-day program. Students attend three to five days per week, based on the PPT recommendation. 
• Transportation is provided for all special needs students.

Peer Role Models: 

Peer Role Models are children who are 3 and 4 years old, and demonstrate strengths in areas of socialization, communication, cognition, and behavior. Peers participate in a brief screening process to become eligible for the lottery drawing* for a slot in the Integrated Preschool program. 

• Children must be 3 years of age at the time of screening. 
• Children eligible for entry into kindergarten cannot participate as a Peer Role Model in the Preschool program.
• This program is held at Thames River Magnet School and Mystic River Magnet School.* Each site offers a morning and afternoon class,

*Students return to their districted elementary school, based on their home address, for Kindergarten. 

Preschool Handbook

For peers participating in the half-day program, the schedule is:

9:00 AM -11:48 AM Tuesday through Friday (There is no morning class on Mondays).

or

12:48-3:35 on Monday through Friday

You can register here for the next available screening appointment.

Groton Public Schools' District-wide Prekindergarten Program is a half-day program designed to supplement a child's progress in the area of school readiness.

The program is open to all children living within the boundaries of Groton Public Schools. Currently, there are 2 sites for the program: Mystic River Magnet School and Thames River Magnet School. Each of these sites offers a morning and afternoon class with a maximum of 18 students in each session.  

• AM Classes: 9:00 AM to 11:48 AM on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (No class on Monday)
• PM Classes: 12:48 PM to 3:35 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday

Each class is staffed with a state-certified early childhood education teacher and a full-time paraprofessional with early childhood training.

Students are selected to participate in the program based on screening scores from a teacher-administered screening.  Students must be age 4 on or before January 1 of that school year to be considered for screening. Students with suspected learning impairments or known learning disabilities will be referred to the Early Childhood Assessment Team for further screening.

Parents can find more detailed program information in the resources provided below. For any additional information or questions call 860-572-2100.  Children eligible for entry into kindergarten cannot participate in the Prekindergarten program.

You can register here for the next available screening appointment.

Please call 860-572-2100 with any questions you may have. 

Groton Public Schools is a competitive recipient of the School Readiness Grant administered by the Connecticut Department of Education.  This grant provides full-day early childhood slots for 3 and 4-year-old children.  These slots are currently in place at:

• Groton Early Childhood Development Center, 591 Poquonnock Road, Groton
  • To apply for a slot in this program, please contact the center at 860-449-8217 ext. 1124.

Riverfront Children’s Center,  476 Thames Street, Groton. 

• To apply for a slot in this program, contact Riverfront at 860-445-8151.

Both sites are State Licensed and NAEYC Accredited. For more information on School Readiness, please contact 860-572-2100.

As part of this grant program, Groton convenes a School Readiness Council comprised of the Superintendent (or his designee), the Mayor (or his designee), local early childhood educators, the School Readiness Liaison, parents, and representatives from local libraries and recreation agencies.  The council meets four to five times per year and plans and oversees readiness related activities for young children.  In addition, the council coordinates Kindergarten transition activities and assists with getting registration information distributed throughout the community.

The key to effective programs and services, for a handicapped child, is early assessment, identification, and programming. Groton Pubic Schools, through community contact and outreach efforts, strives to identify children at an early age who needs special education and related services.

If a parent, caregiver, or early childhood provider suspects that a child, between the ages of 3-5 years old, may have some developmental delays or special concerns they should contact the team to discuss further assessment.  This is a free service available to all Groton families who are concerned about their child's growth and development.  All screening and assessment is confidential.

If the team determines that a child does have a disability or developmental delay, appropriate programming and services will be provided as determined by the planning and placement team.  

Contact the ECAT team regarding a screening or specific questions during normal elementary school hours.

Early Childhood Assessment Team: 

860-235-1725

ecat@groton.k12.ct.us