ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

• Pre-registration: February through March
• Registration: April
• Child must turn 4 years old on or before December 1^st of the school year in which they are enrolled
• For more information, contact our Registrar
  • Michelle McCracken (716)933-6760

• Each classroom has 1 teacher and 1 teacher aide
• Absences, early dismissals, and late arrivals are logged in PickUp Patrol.  You will receive a welcome email before Meet the Teacher night.
• Changes in bussing are also logged in PickUp Patrol.  Your child may bus to any address as long as it is in the PCS district.
• How will I know how my child is doing?
  • Teachers are in contact frequently via ParentSquare (you will receive an invite to join that prior to Meet the Teacher night as well)
  • Formal conferences will be held in Nocember
  • Report cards will be sent home in January and June
  • The PCS UPK report card is based on the Brigance Benchmark Assessment that measures progress in achieving NYS UPK standards.
  • Pre-K Report Card Example

• You will be notified if your child received half day or full day placement at the end of July
• Pre-K screening and family interviews will be held in the beginning of August
• Ms. Forness will contact you for both

• Per NYS UPK regulations, there are a limited number of spots available for UPK class sizes. 
• Preference must be given to district residents over non-residents.  In the event there are more district resident registrations than spots available, the district will conduct a lottery for enrollment.  Not all families who register are guaranteed a spot. 
• In the event of a lottery, families with twins entering UPK are given one number and if selected both students are admitted. 
• In the event of a lottery, any family not selected is a placed on a wait list and will be notified if spots become available. 
• If PCS receives fewer UPK in-district registrations than spots available for UPK, families living out of district will be considered for enrollment.  A separate, out of district lottery will be used to determine out of district enrollment in PCS UPK.
• Any out of district student is expected to follow all out of district guidelines and remain a student in good standing (attendance, grades, behavior) throughout the school year. 

• Half day students will have one session in a traditional pre-k classroom.
• Half day session times:
  • AM Session: 7:50AM – 10:15AM
  • PM Session: 11:25AM – 2:15PM
• Full day students will have two half day sessions.  One session is in a play-based classroom and their other session is in a traditional pre-k classroom.  Full day students will also have breakfast, rest time, and lunch.

Q: What is UPK?

A: In New York State, UPK is a State and federally funded prekindergarten program offered to families free of charge. The only eligibility requirement for UPK in New York State is a child's residency and age. UPK is not an entitlement in New York State and not all families currently have access to UPK. In districts where UPK is available, entry is based on a lottery system and not all families who register are guaranteed a spot. Families should check with their local school district to see if they offer UPK and when registration begins.

Q: Is UPK participation mandatory?

A: No. UPK is a voluntary program for both districts and children. Parents and/or caregivers may choose, but are not required, to enroll their child(ren) in a UPK program. However, once enrolled, the school district’s attendance policy must be applied.

Q: If I decide I do not want to register my child for UPK because they are not ready, can I enroll them in UPK the following year?

A: No. According to Section 3602-e of Education Law, a child is eligible for UPK when they are four years of age on or before December 1 st of the school year in which they are enrolled or will otherwise be first eligible to enter public school kindergarten the following school year. Therefore, a child would only be eligible for UPK for one year.

Q: Will my child be required to be screened prior to starting UPK?

A: Yes. Commissioner’s Regulations §117.1 requires that all students in prekindergarten through grade 12 be screened upon entry to the school district to determine which students are possibly gifted or have or are suspected of having a disability and/or have limited English proficiency.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)
Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) Collaboration with Community-Based Organizations
Portville Central School District 500 Elm Street, Portville NY 14770 Brian Crawford 716-933-6045 | bcrawford@portvllecsd.org
1. Introduction & Purpose
Portville Central School District, in accordance with New York State Pre-Kindergarten Regulations, is seeking proposals from eligible community-based organizations (CBOs) to collaborate in providing Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) services for three- and/or four-year-old children. The selected CBO(s) will partner with the district to ensure high-quality early childhood education that aligns with New York State Prekindergarten Learning Standards.
This RFP process complies with Education Law 3602-e(5)(e), which mandates that at least 10% of UPK allocations be set aside for partnerships with eligible agencies.
2. RFP Timeline
•RFP Issuance Date: March 24, 2026
•Deadline for Questions: April 4, 2026
•Proposal Submission Deadline: April 11, 2026
•Review & Evaluation Period: April 28, 2026-May 2, 2026
•Award Announcement: July 1, 2026
•Program Start Date: August 15, 2026
3. Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
•Be a licensed and/or registered early childhood education provider.
•Demonstrate experience in providing high-quality early childhood education.
•Have the capacity to meet the requirements outlined in this RFP.
•Be in compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations.
4. Program Details & Requirements
4.1 Prekindergarten Model & Student Enrollment
• The district is seeking providers for a minimum of 10 full-day and/or half-day
prekindergarten seats.
• Services must be provided for 180 days per year, at least 2.5 hours/day for half-day
programs or 5 hours/day for full-day programs.
4.2 Instructional & Curriculum Expectations
• Instruction must align with New York State Prekindergarten Learning Standards.
• Developmentally appropriate curriculum must be utilized.
• Services must be inclusive and support children with disabilities and Emergent
Multilingual Learners (EMLs).
4.3 Compliance & Oversight
• CBOs must comply with all district, state, and local safety and security
regulations.
• The district will conduct at least one site visit before awarding contracts.
• The awarded provider must submit periodic data and compliance reports to the
district.
5. Proposal Requirements
CBOs must submit a proposal that includes the following sections:
5.1 Organizational Capacity & Experience
• A description of the agency's experience in providing prekindergarten education.
• The maximum number of students the provider can accommodate.
• Previous experience serving children with disabilities and EMLs.
5.2 Staffing & Qualifications
• List of staff members, including teacher certifications and credentials.
• Supervision plan for uncertified teachers (if applicable).
• Plan to maintain appropriate teacher-to-student ratios:
o 18 students: 1 teacher, 1 paraprofessional
o 19-20 students: 1 teacher, 2 paraprofessionals
5.3 Assessment & Progress Monitoring
• Methods for student progress assessment and data collection.
•Strategies for family engagement in student learning.
5.4 Nutrition, Health & Well-Being
•Plans for providing meals and snacks.
•Strategies for incorporating physical activity into the school day.
5.5 Fiscal & Administrative Capacity
•Detailed budget with anticipated expenses (e.g., staff salaries, benefits, materials).
•Proof of financial solvency.
•Description of record-keeping and compliance procedures.
6. Proposal Submission
All proposals must be submitted by April 11, 2026 to: Portville Central School District Brian Crawford Principal bcrawford@portvillecsd.org
Late submissions will not be accepted.
7. Selection Criteria & Scoring Rubric
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
•Experience & Capacity (20 points) – History of providing early childhood education services.
•Curriculum & Instruction (20 points) – Alignment with NYS Prekindergarten Learning Standards.
•Staff Qualifications (20 points) – Certified teachers and strong supervision plan.
•Compliance & Oversight (15 points) – Adherence to district and state requirements.
•Family & Community Engagement (15 points) – Strategies to involve families.
•Fiscal Management (10 points) – Clear budget and financial sustainability.
8. Award Notification & Contracting
Selected CBOs will be notified on July 1, 2026, and contract agreements will be finalized before the program start date.