Press release:
The Batavia City School District is pleased to offer the free Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) Program for students and will continue to operate the program in the 2015-2016 school year, pending New York State funding. UPK provides an opportunity for 4-year-old children, at no cost to their families, to be involved in developmentally appropriate educational classes that, following the regular school calendar, meet Monday through Friday during the school year.
Since its implementation, the District has provided a half-day program, with a choice of either morning or afternoon sessions. If new State regulations are passed and the District receives funding, a full-day UPK option also will be offered in the 2015-2016 school year.
(Note that if the YMCA is selected once again to be the community-based organization to provide UPK in 2015-2016, they offer additional “wrap around” programs consisting of Child Watch in the morning followed by UPK in the afternoon from12:30-3:00 p.m., then School Aged Child Care afterward. While there is no charge for UPK, there is a charge for the morning Child Watch and afternoon Child Care programs.)
Children who are residents of the District, are 4 years of age on or before Dec. 1, 2015, and who are not enrolled in a special education program with the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership, are eligible to apply.
Letters/applications have been mailed to all known eligible families, but also are available at the District Business Office in the administrative wing of Batavia High School (260 State St.), or by calling 343-2480, ext. 1002. They can also be downloaded from the District’s Web site (www.bataviacsd.org) by using the pull-down menu at the top of the page labeled “District,” then clicking on the link for Student Registration.
Applications should be returned as soon as possible. If there are more applicants than openings, a lottery system will be used to place as many children as possible, with the rest being placed on a waiting list.
