Lynn Public Schools proposes adding 3‑year‑olds to pre‑K lottery while keeping priority for 4‑year‑olds

Lynn Public Schools officials asked the committee to consider a change in entrance‑age policy that would make the district’s prekindergarten lottery open to all 4‑year‑olds and permit 3‑year‑olds to be included when 4‑year‑old seats remain unfilled.

“For the record, Lynn Public Schools compliance officer Charlie Gallo” said the draft replaces an older “2.9” provision and would allow 4‑year‑old students to be eligible for the general‑education pre‑K lottery, with 3‑year‑olds eligible only if seats are not claimed by 4‑year‑olds. Jackie Gallo, director of early learning, told the committee the change is intended to expand equitable access, strengthen program quality and improve alignment with current early‑childhood grants and PRISM curriculum work.

The policy, referred to in materials as an entrance‑age policy (JED / sometimes noted as JEB in packets), does not change kindergarten age eligibility; committee members asked whether the change would close the gap for children who turn 5 after Sept. 1 and staff replied it would not alter kindergarten rules. Jackie Gallo said the district will continue to prioritize 4‑year‑olds for placements and that 3‑year‑olds would be placed only after the 4‑year‑old wait list is exhausted.

Staff described operational details: the application is expected to be posted mid‑January and open through March, with a computer‑generated lottery conducted after March 2. The district will continue to place students in programs near their homes where possible and to prioritize full‑day placements before half‑day unless families request otherwise. The proposal is described as consistent with Massachusetts special‑education requirements (603 CMR 28) and as supporting inclusionary classrooms where peers of similar ages benefit students with IEPs.

Committee members also pressed staff on classroom models and staffing ratios. Staff described several configurations used across the district: small‑group learning classrooms for students with IEPs (approximately 9 students), full‑day small‑group programs (one teacher with three paras), half‑day small‑group programs (one teacher with two paras), and integrated inclusion models (one teacher and one para for roughly 15 students), noting models vary according to student needs.

A motion in the policy subcommittee to accept the proposed entrance‑age policy and move it to the full committee was made, seconded and approved in roll call; the full committee subsequently recorded affirmative votes to move the item to the full committee for further consideration.

If adopted by the full committee, the policy would change the district’s lottery eligibility rules to expand access opportunities for younger children while retaining placement priority for 4‑year‑olds and complying with state special‑education requirements.