The Bethlehem Central School District plans to partner with two local organizations to provide a universal pre-kindergarten (UPK) program that will accommodate up to 92 four-year-olds during the 2025-26 school year. UPK is a free program open to district families with children who will be four years old by Dec. 1, 2025 (children who have birth dates between Dec. 2, 2020 and Dec. 1, 2021).
For the 2025-26 school year, the district will partner with TSL Adventures (339 Delaware Ave., Delmar) and Childtime Learning Center (180 Delaware Ave., Delmar). The total number of available spots will be determined through the application, lottery and enrollment process. There is expected to be up to 92 UPK spots available between the two locations in 2025-26.
All UPK openings will be filled through a lottery process. Selection will be random. The online application window opens Thursday, May 1 and will close on Friday, May 23 at 3 p.m. Families will use the district’s Aspen Parent Portal to complete the application materials (see Aspen information below).
The lottery will be held on Friday, May 30. All eligible students who have applications that have been fully completed and submitted by the May 23 application deadline will be part of the lottery. All applicants will be notified of their lottery position by email and regular mail the week of June 2, 2024.
To be eligible for the lottery, a child must have been born between Dec. 2, 2020 and Dec. 1, 2021, and be a school district resident. Children who are not placed in the program initially will be placed on a waiting list and families will be contacted if space becomes available throughout the year.
Applications for the UPK lottery will be accepted online through the Aspen online portal. Families who do not already have an Aspen account must create one to complete the application. Families unable to register online through Aspen should contact District Registrar Marina Bender at registration@bethlehemschools.org or call 518-439-2442.
UPK – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (This information will be updated periodically.)
How to Submit the Online Registration Application
Parents/guardians of current BC students already have an Aspen account and those parents/guardians must use their existing Aspen accounts.
Not registered in Aspen yet?
Those who don’t have an Aspen account must create one in Aspen. To create an account, you must log in on a desktop or laptop computer, not a mobile device. This is only required when creating an account. Once an account has been created you can log in from a mobile device or computer.
- Log in to Aspen
- On the Aspen home page, under Login ID you can select “Request an account.”
- Once your account has been created, you will be able to submit a UPK application during the open registration window.
Once you have an Aspen account, use Aspen to register for UPK lottery:
The application will take about 20 minutes via computer to complete. Please read all information below:
- Go to https://aspen.bethlehemcentral.org/aspen/logon.do and log in
- From your Homepage, under “Start a New Student Registration” click “Initiate”
- Select the 2025-2026 school year and click “Next.”
- Complete all of the tabbed sections, upload the required documents, and then press “Submit.”
- If you need to stop your online application and come back later, select “Save & Close.”
- Please note there is no transportation for UPK so please for any questions related to transportation, select “No.”
Required Documents to upload:
- Your child’s birth certificate or passport
- Your child’s immunization records
- Government ID of parent/guardian
- Three (3) proofs of Residency (homeowner’s insurance, auto insurance, cable television installation, National Grid bill, lease agreement, home purchase contract)
- Custody papers, if applicable
Families who are unable to register online via Aspen should contact District Registrar Marina Bender at registration@bethlehemschools.org or call 518-439-2442.
All updates to UPK information will be posted to this page as they become available.