All across our city, great teachers are providing classes of 4-year olds with a free, full-day, high-quality pre-K education. Children are learning how to share, how to take turns, and how to follow directions. It’s all an important part of preparing them for a lifetime of learning. Parents can apply for a New York City pre-K seat in every neighborhood. For our children and families, opportunity starts now.
Starting today, the City is running a new public service announcement touting the benefits of the City’s historic expansion of pre-K for the 2014-15 school year and encouraging families to apply for remaining seats in neighborhoods across the city. The PSA, which showcases the critical preparation for kindergarten and continuing education that expanded pre-K will provide for 4-year-olds, will be targeted online to likely parents of 4-year-olds in neighborhoods where the City is seeking to raise awareness of new pre-K options.
The 30-second PSA is part of an extensive effort to engage parents and families citywide with pre-K programs that foster academic, cognitive and social development. The City has also utilized multilingual grassroots outreach in partnership with community groups and volunteers, robocalls to families, and other print and video PSAs on bus shelters, buses, subways and taxis to spread the word about pre-K opportunities.
“High-quality, full-day pre-K gives our youngest students the tools they need to succeed in kindergarten. It is crucial that all parents and families know about the tremendous long-term benefits pre-K offers their children, and know how to apply,” said Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña. “This is one of many ways we are reaching out across communities to raise awareness to give families the opportunity to take advantage of this critical year of enriched academic learning.”
“Pre-K for All is the foundation for New York’s educational and economic future, and we must make sure that it’s serving all communities,” said Deputy Mayor Richard Buery. “Parents and families of 4-year-olds on every block in every neighborhood need to know that they can still apply for free pre-K. These are great, high-quality options for kids. We’ve made it easier than ever to apply. But for parents to take advantage they need to call, text or go online now.”
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