The Fayetteville-Manlius School District is gearing up for its 2026-27 universal prekindergarten program.
Families interested in registering their children for the district’s universal prekindergarten (UPK) program may begin submitting applications on Jan. 5. Forms are available on the district website or may be picked up at the district office, located at 8199 E. Seneca Turnpike in Manlius.
The district offers a full-day, five-hour long, UPK program for four-year-old children who reside within the F-M district. It is a federally and state funded program that introduces young learners to the school environment and focuses on intellectually, socially and emotionally preparing children for kindergarten. It operates five days a week and follows the district’s calendar, with 180 days of school (September through June) each year.
“We know from research and our own experience that children who attend prekindergarten are better prepared for kindergarten,” said Melissa Corbin, F-M’s Executive Director of Early Childhood and Human Resources. “Children enrolled in prekindergarten start their K-12 education with a solid introduction to the skills they will need to be successful in their education journey, including math and literacy competencies as well as a focus on social interactions and communication.”
Because F-M’s three elementary school buildings are already at capacity, the district partners with existing early education community-based organizations to administer the district’s program, which follows the New York State Pre-kindergarten Learning Standards.
2026-27 Eligibility
The program is open to all children who reside within the district’s boundaries and, for the 2026-27 school year, are four years old on or before Dec. 1, 2026. Students who are school-age (turn 5 before Dec. 1, 2026) are not eligible.
The district can accommodate up to 126 children in the program. If there are more eligible applicants than can be served in a given school year, the district will conduct a lottery-based system to determine who may enroll in the program. The lottery will select attendees on a random basis, and children not randomly selected will be placed on a waiting list. If any vacancies occur during the school year, they will be filled from the waiting list until it has been exhausted.
More information about the lottery process, as well as such general program information as the district’s community partners, required forms and registration documentation, transportation and meals, is available on the district website.