Mayor Bill de Blasio first announced free pre-k for 3 year olds in October of 2017. New York will be one of the few cities in the country to offer free preschool including Washington. At first run there was only 20,000 full day prekindergarten, today New York expects to serve 62,000 children a year.
Beginning this Fall Staten Islanders will be able to enroll their children for the upcoming 2019 and 2020 school year. 3-K for all is a part of the mayor’s and chancellor’s initiative in providing high quality education for all grades.
The mayor has also announced an initiative that will add to the 3-K plan, it is aimed at providing kindergarten and first graders with free eye exams and eyeglasses. According to SIlive in New York City 25% of students need glasses, but only 5% of those in need get them.
Families can choose from three types of settings for 3-K for All programs:
- District Schools. Some public elementary schools offer 3-K programs. These programs are overseen by the school’s principal.
- Pre-K Centers. Pre-K Centers are run by DOE staff, but they only offer grades before kindergarten.
- NYC Early Education Centers (NYCEECs). Some community-based organizations contract with the DOE or the Administration for Children’s Services to provide 3-K. These programs are selected through a rigorous evaluation process and are supported by the DOE Division of Early Childhood Education
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