State expands universal pre-K funding across Mid-Hudson region
Universal pre-K is a federal and state-funded program that allows children to attend pre-K free of charge.
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Gov. Kathy Hochul joined education leaders and elected officials in Eastchester Thursday to announce approximately $560 million in funding that will add thousands of pre-K seats across more than 400 school districts statewide.
Universal pre-K is a federal and state-funded program that allows children to attend pre-K free of charge.
The funding is part of the state's $1.7 billion investment in childcare programs.
Tuckahoe School District Superintendent Benjamin Roberts said additional funding has allowed the district to expand its program.
"We've actually had a program for many years here at Tuckahoe and have most recently been able to expand because of the additional funding, going from 40 students last year to now close to 60 students," Roberts said.
State officials said the goal is to provide every 4-year-old in New York with access to high-quality pre-K by the 2028 school year, eliminating the lottery system many districts currently use.
"I don't believe that pre-K is a luxury. I think it is a necessity. It's a basic infrastructure for working families," Hochul said.
In a statement to News 12, Republican gubernatorial challenger Bruce Blakeman said: "When I’m governor, I’ll make childcare affordable for children of all ages by stopping Hochul’s taxes, fees and mandates that only deepen the financial pain families face when putting food on the table and clothes on their children.”
Here are the Hudson Valley public school districts adding new seats:
ARLINGTON CSD
BREWSTER CSD
CARMEL CSD
CHAPPAQUA CSD
CHESTER UFSD
CLARKSTOWN CSD
CROTON-HARMON UFSD
DOBBS FERRY UFSD
DOVER UFSD
EAST RAMAPO CSD (SPRING VALLEY)
EDGEMONT UFSD
ELLENVILLE CSD
FALLSBURG CSD
FLORIDA UFSD
GARRISON UFSD
GOSHEN CSD
GREENBURGH CSD
GREENWOOD LAKE UFSD
HENDRICK HUDSON CSD
HYDE PARK CSD
KATONAH-LEWISBORO UFSD
KINGSTON CITY SD
KIRYAS JOEL VILLAGE UFSD
LAKELAND CSD
MAHOPAC CSD
MAMARONECK UFSD
MARLBORO CSD
MIDDLETOWN CITY SD
MILLBROOK CSD
MONROE-WOODBURY CSD
MT PLEASANT CSD
MT VERNON SCHOOL DISTRICT
NANUET UFSD
NEW ROCHELLE CITY SD
NEWBURGH CITY SD
NORTH SALEM CSD
NYACK UFSD
OSSINING UFSD
PAWLING CSD
PORT JERVIS CITY SD
PUTNAM VALLEY CSD
RED HOOK CSD
RHINEBECK CSD
RONDOUT VALLEY CSD
SAUGERTIES CSD
SOUTH ORANGETOWN CSD
TUCKAHOE UFSD
UFSD-TARRYTOWNS
VALHALLA UFSD
WALLKILL CSD
WASHINGTONVILLE CSD
WHITE PLAINS CITY SD
YONKERS CITY SD
