Schools
Worcester Schools Weigh Expansion Of Full-Day Preschool
The district is considering another expansion of full-day preschool after hearing continued demand from caregivers.
WORCESTER, MA — Worcester Public Schools is considering another expansion of full-day preschool after hearing continued demand from caregivers.
The district is reviewing where additional programs may be needed and researching funding options. Families and community members can provide feedback during seven forums scheduled between Sept. 2 and Nov. 7 as part of the district’s broader School Boundary and Quadrant Alignment Project.
Worcester added 75 full-day pre-K seats at five schools for the 2026-27 academic year. The new sites are Francis J. McGrath, Vernon Hill, Gates Lane and Norrback Avenue elementary schools and Worcester Technical High School.
The expansion brought full-day pre-K to 12 schools across the district.
Worcester Public Schools said it created the new seats by converting underused half-day openings, allowing the change without additional costs. Full-day programs had consistently reached capacity while half-day programs had continuing vacancies, according to the district.
The district has not announced how many additional seats or sites it could include in a future expansion. It also has not identified a potential funding source.
The community forums are scheduled for Sept. 2, Sept. 16, Sept. 29, Oct. 13, Oct. 19, Oct. 26 and Nov. 7. Locations and times had not been finalized on the district’s project page.
The forums will also gather feedback on possible changes involving school boundaries, building capacity, program locations and feeder patterns. The Worcester School Committee is expected to vote on a recommended alignment plan in December, with implementation anticipated for the 2027-28 school year, according to the district’s project timeline.
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