The local school district plans to add the first-ever prekindergarten class at Harpswell Community School in the fall as part of a broader push to expand access to early childhood education statewide.
Maine School Administrative District 75 currently offers pre-K classes at two of its elementary schools: Williams-Cone Elementary School in Topsham and Bowdoin Central School in Bowdoin. Each class can hold up to 16 students, for a total of 32 spots. The district includes Harpswell, Topsham, Bowdoin and Bowdoinham.
Assistant Superintendent of Schools Amanda Hersey told the school board at its April 10 meeting that applications for pre-K enrollment have jumped significantly across the district, from 37 for the current school year to 67 for next year. As a result, the district plans to add two new classes — in Harpswell and Topsham — expanding its total capacity to 64 students.
Hersey said the new pre-K classes will be fully funded by the state and have no impact on next year’s budget. Students are evaluated for the program based on socioeconomic need, with those not selected being placed on a waitlist.
Among the 67 pre-K applications for next year, 32 were from Topsham, 15 from Bowdoin, 14 from Bowdoinham and six from Harpswell. Superintendent of Schools Heidi O’Leary said in an email that Harpswell kids have attended pre-K in the past, just not at the Harpswell school.
Pre-K is an early childhood education program designed to prepare kids ages 4 and 5 for the transition to kindergarten. It focuses on developing basic academic, social and motor skills through structured play and classroom activities.
Maine’s program also accepts 3-year-olds, particularly those with special needs. Pre-K is usually offered through a mix of public schools, private providers and federally funded programs such as Head Start.
Hersey said studies have shown that pre-K programs offer a range of benefits. One study found that students who attend are 40% less likely to require special education services, while another showed a 28% boost in kindergarten readiness scores.
“Additional benefits (include) enhanced self-regulation skills and social competencies,” Hersey said.
In 2023, the Maine Legislature passed a law aiming to create a universal, mixed-delivery public preschool system. The law set a phased goal: 60% access by the 2024-25 school year, 80% by 2025-26, and 100% by 2026-27.
The following year, the Legislature passed another law mandating that all school districts offer free public education for children ages 3 to 5 with special needs. It set a deadline of July 2028 for full statewide participation.
MSAD 75 plans to designate one to two spots in each of its four pre-K classes to accommodate young children with special needs. Amy Hall, director of special services, said the district has joined a cohort that includes the second wave of schools to join the statewide program.
“Effective the first day of school next year, we will assume responsibility for providing special education services, and everything that’s involved with that … for all students in our communities 3 to 5 years old.”
Hall said the district is excited to be taking on an expanded role in providing early childhood education with support from the state. Previously, Maine has relied more heavily on private service providers for special education, she said, which has left access gaps in some areas.
Hersey and Hall said another benefit of expanding MSAD 75’s role in early childhood education is that it will boost overall enrollment numbers and state subsidies the district receives.
