SENATOR KLEIN ANNOUNCES 50 NEW UNIVERSAL PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS TO OPEN IN THE BRONX – MORE THAN 2,600 NEW SEATS ADDED, OVER 1,000 SEATS CONVERTED TO FULL DAY INSTRUCTION

March 18, 2015 10:28 AM·

661 New UPK Seats in Hunts Point, Soundview, Castle Hill, Country Club and Throggs Neck; 470 in Riverdale/Kingsbridge; 535 in Woodlawn, Pelham Parkway, Morris Park and City Island

Klein Urges Bronx Families With Eligible Young Children to Register Ahead of April 24th Deadline

BRONX, NY – Following the launch of the Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) 2015-2016 open enrollment period, Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester) today announced 50 new UPK programs have been added in the Bronx with more than 2,600 new seats available and over 1,000 half-day seats now converted to full-day instruction. Senator Klein urged parents with eligible children to register as soon as possible to secure their place ahead of the April 24th deadline.

“By ensuring our youngest students have access to a high-quality education, we are investing in a brighter future for all New Yorkers,” said Senator Klein. “Today, I’m proud to say that more than 2,600 four-year-old students will now have the opportunity to attend pre-K in the Bronx and more than 1,000 students will receive full day instruction this fall. Making sure our youngest students, regardless of background or socioeconomic status, have access to a first-rate education is paramount. That’s why I’ve fought long and hard to implement and now expand pre-K programs in the Bronx and across New York City.”

UPK programs in the Bronx, which are available through New York City district schools, charter schools and NYC Early Education Centers, added 661 new seats in Hunts Point, Soundview, Castle Hill, Country Club and Throggs Neck; 470 new seats in Riverdale/Kingsbridge; and 535 in Woodlawn, Pelham Parkway, Morris Park and City Island. Additionally, this year, all half-day district pre-K programs were converted to full-day, bringing the total of full-day UPK enrollment in the Bronx to more than 7,000 students.

District 8 UPK Expansion: Hunts Point, Soundview, Castle Hill, Country Club,Throggs Neck

School	Zip Code	Expansion type	Seats 2015-2016 School Year
Ciditty Kiddie Pre-K	10473	New Program	36
Holy Family School	10473	Half-Day to Full-Day	72
Kiderific Nursery School	10461	Half-Day to Full-Day	14
Little Angels Daycare	10459	New Program	25
Our Lady if the Assumption School	10461	New Program	54
Providence Rest Child Day Care Center	10465	New Program	18
Shining Stars UPK	10461	Half-Day to Full-Day	30
Sotomayor	10472	New Program	126
St. Francis De Chantal School	10465	New Program	54
P.S. 36	10472	Half-Day to Full-Day	54
P.S. 119	10472	Half-Day to Full-Day	36
P.S. 304	10465	Half-Day to Full-Day	36
Boys Prep Charter School	10455	New Program	53
Girls Prep Charter School	10455	New Program	53

District 10 UPK Expansion: Riverdale/Kingsbridge

School	Zip Code	Expansion type	Seats 2015-2016 School Year
Amalgamated Nursery	10463	Half-Day to Full- Day	35
Marble Hill Nursery	10463	Half-Day to Full-Day	40
Oasis Early Start Imagination Center	10463	New Program	108
Spuytin Duyvil Pre School	10463	Half-Day to Full-Day	36
P.S. 310	10463	Half-Day to Full-Day	54
Riverdale Montessori	10471	Additional Seats	38
Riverdale Temple	10471	Half-Day to Full-Day	31
Riverdale Y	10471	Additional Seats	36
Saint Margaret of Crotona	10471	Additional Seats	92

District 11 UPK Expansion: Woodlawn, Pelham Parkway, Morris Park, City Island

School	Zip Code	Expansion type	Seats 2015-2016 School Year
All Season A&C Day Care	10467	New Program	17
Bronx House 1	10461	Half-Day to Full-Day	90
Bronx House 2	10467	Half-Day to Full-Day	72
Bronx Park East Preparatory	10467	Half-Day to Full-Day	20
Holy Rosary Early Childhood at. St. Mary Star of the Sea	10464	New Program	36
Howard Haber Early learning Center	10462	Half-Day to Full-Day	12
Immaculate Conception School	10467	New Program	36
Mind- Builders Creative Arts Center	10467	New Program	18
St. Barnabas School	10470	New Program	54
P.S. 106	10462	Half-Day to Full-Day	36
Pre-K Center at 800 Lydig Ave	10462	New Program	36
Pre- K Center at 1684 White Plains Road	10462	New Program	36
Bronx Charter School for Excellence	10462	New Program	72

“This outcome is a win-win for City Island residents. After months of waiting, our small community now has the same access to City services that many other residents enjoy,” said John Doyle, Corresponding Secretary of the City Island Civic Association. “Furthermore, we have protected the former St. Mary’s school building from being sold down the road. I want to thank Senator Klein, as well as the staff of the Archdiocese’s office for listening to our concerns and helping get us to this point.”

“The Women of Woodlawn thank Senator Klein for his commitment to providing pre-Kindergarten to all Bronx students. Expansion of the program has been an issue near and dear to my heart for some time, and I applaud the Senator’s efforts in making this a reality,” said Erin Lee, President of the Women of Woodlawn. “I am thrilled the parents and families of Woodlawn will now have the opportunity to enroll their children this fall, and I look forward to seeing our youngest students learn, grow and prosper in the coming years.”

In 2014, Senator Klein secured $300 million in the state budget to fully fund Universal Pre-Kindergarten in New York City. Klein released a report that same year, detailing a $3.7 billion return on investment for the implementation of the program across the five boroughs. New York City’s long-term economic benefits include: (1) increased earnings by those who attend full-day pre-K, (2) a citywide drop in crime and incarceration rates, and (3) a sharp reduction in mental health issues and substance abuse rates among those who complete a full-day pre-K program.

Universal Pre-Kindergarten enrollment began on March 16th and will run through April 24th, 2015. All children born in 2011 who live in New York City are encouraged to apply and are eligible for September 2015 enrollment. Dual language and enhanced language instruction programs are available to all students. Families wishing to register can visit nyc.gov/prek, call 311, or visit a Family Welcome Center nearby.