Thousands of openings in pre-K programs
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If you’re still looking for a pre-Kindergarten program for your 4-year-old, the Department of Education wants you! According to the Daily News there are some 5400 open seats, so many that the DOE is advertising them on Craigslist.
What’s the catch? Many of the programs are half-day sessions, either morning or afternoon,which are inconvenient for working parents. But there are more than 900 full-day options as well, many of them in desirable schools. Be aware that some schools have just one open seat, whereas others have a few dozen.
If your child is turning four by Dec. 31, 2009, he or she is eligible. The DOE is asking parents to register by Oct. 30 because the city risks losing millions of dollars in state funding if they don’t fill the seats by Oct. 31. Openings will be filled on a “first-come, first-serve” basis,” according to the DOE.
Bear in mind, even if your child is accepted into a pre-K program this year, there is no guarantee that he or she will be able to attend the same school in kindergarten. You’ll have to apply again; priority is given to students living in the zone, and those with siblings already attending the school.
For a list of registration requirements, and schools and community organizations with available seats, check the DOE’s page on pre-kindergarten admissions.
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Does anyone know if that includes youngsters with special needs as well?
Comment by Ellen — October 26, 2009 @ 10:21 pm
Parents of perfectly eligible 4 year olds, with and without special needs are still in the dark about UPK availability. And despite Mr. Dunn’s comments in the DN, CPSEs are still unaware or unable or unconscious about recommending UPKs both in public schools or at CBOs and also being able to deliver the related services and or SEIT that many children need to benefit from any mainstream preschool experience. DOE knew this dead line was coming a long time ago — where was the media and interagency push to fill these seats over the summer and early September ?
Comment by Anonymous — October 27, 2009 @ 7:36 am
I think you may have over-looked the news articles about the availability of pre-k seats. There have been a few and it has been a topic of conversation with the DOE for a few months. The issue seems to be the fact of half day when so many parents are working full time.
But if there were a way to use the half day seats for youngsters with disabilities and then bring them to the centers where they could get therapies this could be a good thing for the parents and caretakers.
Comment by Ellen — October 27, 2009 @ 8:05 am
I wonder if the abundance of vacant seats has to do with issues related to after school care. My youngest child attended a parochial school for pre-k primarily because they offered an onsite after school program. We could not find an ASP that accepted pre-k students from the public schools in which we were interested. It was cheaper to pay the tuition than to hire a babysitter for daily after school pick-up and childcare!
Comment by DR — November 1, 2009 @ 8:23 pm