Expanded Program To Open At P.S. 91
Glendale’s P.S. 91 will open its first full-day, universal prekindergarten (UPK) program this September, City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley announced on Monday, Feb. 4.
The school located on Central Avenue between 68th Place and 69th Street was approved by the Department of Education (DOE) to have full-day UPK seats beginning in the 2013-14 school year. As with all UPK programs, seats are free and available on a first come, first served basis.
According to Crowley, the fullday classes will give students between four and five years of age a greater opportunity to learn, “and it also benefits parents who can’t afford to leave work midday to pick up their children,” as stated in a press release announcing the expanded program.
“Pre-K programs offer an early start and build greater academic success for our students,” Crowley said. “The expansion of full-day classes at P.S. 91 is a tremendous benefit for our students and school community, and I will continue to work hard to build more educational opportunities.”
The DOE’s website describes the UPK program as a “nurturing environment” in which “children’s natural curiosity is used as a springboard to learn skills that are necessary for success in school.”
Currently, there are approximately 60,000 UPK seats throughout the city. The expansion of the program from half-day to full-day ses- sions was announced last September by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott.
Certain public schools across the city have UPK classes, and the DOE also operates UPK programs in community based organizations (CBO) such as the Greater Ridgewood Youth Council, Christ the King Regional High School in Middle Village, Redeemer Lutheran School in Glendale and Maspeth Town Hall.
Other local public schools with UPK programs in the 30th City Council District which Crowley rephand resents include P.S. 68, P.S. 88 and P.S. 239 in Ridgewood, P.S./I.S. 87 in Middle Village, P.S. 153 in Maspeth and P.S. 229 in Woodside.
Registration for UPK programs begins in early March. To apply for UPK classes in participating public schools, visit www.schools.nyc.gov or visit the DOE enrollment office at 28-11 Queens Plaza North in Long Island City.
Contact the CBO directly for registration information about UPK programs which they operate.
For additional information, call Crowley’s office at 1-718-366-3900.
