State Awards Funding to Support 3-Year-Old Pre-K
Governor Cuomo has issued the release below to announce that $10.4 million has been awarded to 25 high need school districts in order to increase access to pre-kindergarten services by children three years of age. The school districts and their respective award amounts are listed in the announcement.
Although SAANYS congratulates the 25 school districts that submitted successful applications, it should be noted that pre-kindergarten services are neither universally nor equitably available to preschool children who are four years of age. The attached chart, prepared by SAANYS based on State Education Department data, indicates that approximately 63 percent of New York State children who are four years of age receive pre-kindergarten services, and that regional participation ranges from 87 percent in New York City to 32 percent on Long Island. During the upcoming legislative session SAANYS will advocate for the amalgamation of the current seven current pre-kindergarten programs into a single program, with consistent program requirements and sustained (if not increased) fiscal support to make such services more equitably available.
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