Free preschools in Connecticut are referred to as magnet schools. They are publicly funded, and serve as many students each year as they are able. The majority of these preschools are located in the Hartford area, as part of the Capitol Region Education Council. The Charter School for Young Children on Asylum Hill, for example, is a Pre-K through Grade 2 school that serves both urban and suburban students. The University of Hartford Magnet School is another such school, located on the university campus. Students experience the excitement of being on a college campus, before they are even old enough for kindergarten.
Some preschools focus on a specific skill set, in attempt to bring out certain qualities of learning and passion. The Reggio Magnet School of the Arts is one example of this. Located in Avon, Connecticut, little ones enjoy a well-rounded arts curriculum as well as learning basic subjects. In turn, the Six to Six Interdistrict Magnet School features a preschool that centers on technology for all its instruction.
Finally, the International Magnet School for Global Citizenship exists to promote world tolerance and intercultural understanding.
While magnet schools are popular and continuously have wait lists, there are some preschools that allow their first handful of sessions to be free of charge. This is another alternative if you would like to see how well your child does in the preschool environment without having to pay a lot of money up front. The Little Academy in Shelton, Connecticut, always makes their first week of classes free to new students, and offers flexible schedules and learning opportunities. The Friendship School, located in Waterford, is an urban/suburban effort between two neighboring cities that work to ensure children receive a quality preschool education regardless of a family's ability to pay.