Greenwich, CT: District to add SPED Pre-K classes; numbers have tripled since 2012
At their last meeting the Greenwich school board took up an action item to restore two Pre-K classrooms to the ed specs – detailed planning documents used in school construction and renovation – for the Riverside School renovation project.
Adding the Pre-K classrooms back into the ed specs allows the district to secure an additional 15% state reimbursement rate applied to the entire project’s construction cost because Connecticut now provides the higher state reimbursements to encourage the expansion of early childhood education, including structural funding for districts facing space constraints.
Adding the Pre-K classrooms back into the project is expected to save the town up to $5 million.
The Pre-K classrooms were originally in the ed specs but were removed by the BOE back in Feb 2025.
Riverside has waited its turn for a renovation, with a new Central Middle School and renovation at Old Greenwich School coming first. . . .
The number of children eligible for Pre-K in Greenwich has tripled since 2012. Dr. Heiligenthaler said the trend is not unique to Greenwich.
The ratio for Greenwich Pre-K classrooms is 15 students: 9 peers and 6 special needs students.
Mr. Kittle asked why the numbers of special education students was increasing and how children are identified.
Dr. Heiligenthaler explained children are referred by health professionals. Also, she said, the number of children diagnosed with autism is growing across the country.
Another factor is that the birth rate increased during Covid and there is a wave of “Covid babies” who are entering public school.
Kittle argued that Riverside parents pushed for their building renovation, but had not clamored for Pre-K. He asked how much would be saved by taking out the Pre-K classrooms from the ed specs. . . .
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