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UPK Home
2026-27 School Year
For the fall of 2026, South Colonie will be offering Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) programs across the district with five hour programs in each of the five elementary schools, and four 2.5 hour programs in Roessleville and Saddlewood. Additionally, the district anticipates collaborating again with an established community based organization (CBO) to offer an extra five hour classroom, taught by that agency's teachers.
Each district program/classroom has a capacity of eighteen (18) students, with a district maximum capacity of 162 seats. With a collaborating class offering up to 16 seats. A random lottery will be held on May 21, 2026 to determine which students receive a placement. Any student not selected is placed on a waiting list. Should students from the lottery list decline/move, those on the waiting list would be next in line for the opening created.
Please note that your home school location may not be where your child attends, as it is based on lottery draw and availability in those programs. To the greatest extent possible, we will look to match students with their home school.
Important Information:
- Children must be four years old by December 1 of the enrollment year. For Example, children turning four between December 2, 2025 and December 1, 2026, are eligible for Universal Pre-K in September 2026.
- Registration with the District Registrar begins in January and is required for eligibility.
- Programs are subject to budget approval each May.
- Transportation and wrap-around care are not provided.
Full Day (5 Hour) Program
Five-hour programming is housed in Roessleville, Forest Park, Veeder Elementary Schools. Shaker Road and Saddlewood Elementary Schools. Additionally, the district anticipates collaborating again with an established community based organization (CBO) to offer an extra five-hour classroom, taught by that agency's teachers. Lunch and rest time are incorporated within the five hours of programming.
Half Day Program
The half-day program is 2 ½ hours long. The morning (AM) session runs approximately from 8:45 to 11:15 a.m., and the afternoon (PM) session runs from 12:15 to 2:45 p.m. This program option is located at two schools: Saddlewood Elementary School and Roessleville Elementary School.
Office of the Registrar
District Office
102 Loralee Drive , Albany, NY 12205
(518) 869-3576
DeNeen Bogdanowicz
registration@scolonie.org
- To register, visit the Family Connections Portal at the link below, and create an account (if you do not already have one).
- Affidavit Form – Only applies if parent/guardian lives in dwelling that they do not lease or own in their name
- Home Language Questionnaire
If you are unable to access any of these forms, please call (518) 869-3576 for assistance.
Office of the Registrar
District Office
102 Loralee Drive, Albany, NY 12205
(518) 869-3576
DeNeen Bogdanowicz
registration@scolonie.org
Upon district registration, a student will be given a number that will be used for the lottery drawing. That number is randomly drawn and could land anywhere in the 162 openings available, or if not drawn, be placed on a waiting list. For example; If your child received number 10, which means you are the tenth person to register, it does not equate to your child being the tenth student in line for a program seat.
The UPK Lottery will be held on Thursday May 21, 2025 at the District Office at 4 p.m.
At the conclusion of the lottery, results will be posted on the UPK Lottery Page and parents will also be notified of their child’s selection. Once selected and notified, parents will need to accept or decline their child’s spot within one week.
Parents with students of this eligible age group may apply for the UPK program during the course of the school year, as sometimes openings are created by existing students. Additionally, even if an opening does not exist at this time, students may be placed on a waiting list in which they would be contacted when an opening occurs. For more information, please contact South Colonie Student Support Services at 518-869-6759.
Parents are encouraged to make an appointment to register their child and should bring the following documents:
- Your child’s original birth certificate
- Immunization records (Please note an updated physical will be required prior to UPK student screening in June)
- (3) proofs of the parent/guardian residency
- Completed Universal Pre-K application
- IF APPLICABLE – Custody paperwork
- IF APPLICABLE – Affidavit if they do not own or lease their own residency
- Home Language Questionnaire
- January 1 to May 21, 2026 - Program Registration
- May 20, 2026 - Registration Deadline
- May 21, 2026 - UPK Lottery at 4 p.m. (District Office)
- May 29, 2026 – Acceptance Deadlin
- June - Assigned UPK Student Screening dates will be sent to parents.
- July - Building/Classroom/Teacher notifications to families
- September - UPK orientation/Program begins (aligned with K-12 school calendar)
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- To register, visit the Family Connections Portal at the link below, and create an account (if you do not already have one).
- Affidavit Form – Only applies if parent/guardian lives in dwelling that they do not lease or own in their name
- Home Language Questionnaire
If you are unable to access any of these forms, please call (518) 869-3576 for assistance.
Office of the Registrar
District Office
102 Loralee Drive, Albany, NY 12205
(518) 869-3576DeNeen Bogdanowicz
registration@scolonie.org -
Upon district registration, a student will be given a number that will be used for the lottery drawing. That number is randomly drawn and could land anywhere in the 162 openings available, or if not drawn, be placed on a waiting list. For example; If your child received number 10, which means you are the tenth person to register, it does not equate to your child being the tenth student in line for a program seat.
The UPK Lottery will be held on Thursday May 21, 2025 at the District Office at 4 p.m.
At the conclusion of the lottery, results will be posted on the UPK Lottery Page and parents will also be notified of their child’s selection. Once selected and notified, parents will need to accept or decline their child’s spot within one week.
-
Parents with students of this eligible age group may apply for the UPK program during the course of the school year, as sometimes openings are created by existing students. Additionally, even if an opening does not exist at this time, students may be placed on a waiting list in which they would be contacted when an opening occurs. For more information, please contact South Colonie Student Support Services at 518-869-6759.
-
Parents are encouraged to make an appointment to register their child and should bring the following documents:
- Your child’s original birth certificate
- Immunization records (Please note an updated physical will be required prior to UPK student screening in June)
- (3) proofs of the parent/guardian residency
- Completed Universal Pre-K application
- IF APPLICABLE – Custody paperwork
- IF APPLICABLE – Affidavit if they do not own or lease their own residency
- Home Language Questionnaire
-
- January 1 to May 21, 2026 - Program Registration
- May 20, 2026 - Registration Deadline
- May 21, 2026 - UPK Lottery at 4 p.m. (District Office)
- May 29, 2026 – Acceptance Deadlin
- June - Assigned UPK Student Screening dates will be sent to parents.
- July - Building/Classroom/Teacher notifications to families
- September - UPK orientation/Program begins (aligned with K-12 school calendar)
- Academic Development
Students build reading readiness, explore fiction and non-fiction, enhance math skills, and engage in science lessons and discovery.
- Skill Building
The program fosters social and self-help skills while developing large and fine motor abilities through hands-on activities.
- Creative Exploration
Students enjoy music, dance, art, and library time, nurturing creativity and self-expression in a fun, engaging environment.
Q&A
This section addresses common questions about the South Colonie UPK program, covering everything from eligibility requirements and enrollment processes to the activities and curriculum that make our program a great foundation for your child's educational journey.
If you have additional questions that aren’t answered here, feel free to reach out—we’re happy to assist!
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The New York State Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program (UPK) is a state and district-funded program that provides educationally-based, high-quality pre-kindergarten to four-year-old children. The program is free to all eligible children. UPK provides developmentally appropriate activities to help four-year-olds prepare for Kindergarten. As our state’s school standards and expectations become more rigorous, making sure young children enter school with basic skills in place is critical for success. All UPK classes are taught by New York State certified teachers.
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- Reading readiness and early literacy development
- Exposure to literature, both fiction and non-fiction
- Math skills
- Science lessons and discovery
- Social skills
- Self-help skills
- Large motor activities
- Fine motor activities
- Music, dance, library and art
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UPK is open to children residing in the school district who are four years old on or before December 1 of the current school year. Income eligibility is not a factor, and all families are encouraged to apply. Admittance is through a lottery drawing held in May.
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The Office of Student Support Services oversees the program. Specific questions with regards to UPK may be directed toward the Supervisor of Special Programs at 518-869-6759.
Any registration questions should be directed to the District Registrar at 518 869-3576.
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No transportation is provided for this program. Parents/guardians are responsible for getting their students to and from the program.
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No. The district does not have a first-come, first-served registration list.
Your UPK Lottery number is assigned at the time of district registration and is provided by the Registrar.
Student placement will be determined through the use of a lottery system in May. Please keep in mind that while the district would like to accommodate all requests, it is possible that not all children who register will get into the program. This is based upon the overall numbers compared to actual slots that are available. Registration begins in January and remains open until the day of the lottery.
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The district will email acceptance notifications to all families who are selected for the program. Please ensure your email address is accurate. Families will also receive additional paperwork (Health/Medical documents) that will need to be returned to the Office of Student Support Services at Lisha Kill Middle School, 68 Waterman Avenue, Albany, NY 12205 within two weeks - which also confirms your acceptance in the program.
Please note an updated physical will be required prior to UPK student screening in June.
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If your lottery number is not chosen, you will automatically be placed on a waiting list in the order the numbers are listed.
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UPK follows the South Colonie school calendar and runs Monday through Friday.
All UPK programs have a staggered start time in comparison to the K-4 school day in order to avoid traffic congestion with buses.
The half day program is 2 ½ hours long. The morning (AM) session runs approximately from 8:45 to 11:15 a.m., and the afternoon (PM) session runs from 12:15 to 2:45 p.m. This program option is located at two schools: Saddlewood Elementary School and Roessleville Elementary School.
Five hour programming is currently housed at Roessleville, Forest Park and Veeder Elementary Schools. Shaker Road Elementary will also house a similar program in the fall of 2024. The programs will run from approximately 9:30 a.m. to 2:30. pm. Lunch and rest time are incorporated within the five hours of programming.Pending RFPs with collaborating community based programs, additional programming may become available.