Inclusive Preschool

The New Discoveries Learning Center Preschool Program serves children 3 to 5 years old and is licensed by New York State Department of Education. Students in the program work and learn at different developmental levels in an inclusive preschool setting at each site.

The special education services that are available in the program include: evaluation, special education classes, speech therapy, and physical and occupational therapies. All programs and special developmental classes are conducted by licensed, professional staff.

Classrooms consist of either nine or 12 preschool students with differing levels of ability and six children from our child care program. Staff ratios vary, depending on the physical and behavioral needs of the group, but typical ratios are: one staff to four infants, one staff to five toddlers, one staff to seven preschoolers, and one staff to 10 school-aged children.

Infant and toddler development is addressed by a play-base curriculum, which includes toys, music, art, books and gross motor activities. For children 3 to 5 years old, our curriculum is based on High/Scope.

Parents are permitted and encouraged to visit the preschool program at any time; appointments are not necessary. 

Upstate Cerebral Palsy operates six New Discoveries Learning Centers across the Mohawk Valley including sites in Utica, Barneveld, Rome, Chadwicks, and Clinton. For more information, or to enroll a child, contact Christine Spano at (315) 737-9013 or christine.spano@upstatecp.org.