By Eric Jankiewicz
Woodhaven’s library saluted the youngsters who graduated from its first pre-K class last week.
Mayor Bill de Blasio’s push for universal pre-K met significant boundaries last year when demand outstripped the number of seats. And while this was a problem throughout the city, it was most pronounced in central and western Queens, according to de Blasio.
Queens Library started a pre-K program in response to high demand for seats and the library’s first class of 18 tykes graduated June 25. Other library branches in the borough are set to hold their own classes in the upcoming school years.
“Queens Library’s pre-kindergarten is a natural extension of our mission to provide impactful, lifelong learning resources,” said Bridget Quinn-Carey, interim president and CEO of Queens Library. “We are looking forward to expanding Queens Library’s pre-kindergarten to Ravenswood for the next school year. Education and libraries go together.”
The Ravenswood library branch in the NYCHA complex needed $572,000 to make the necessary changes to hold pre-K classes. And Borough President Melinda Katz allocated $250,000 to the project in 2014. But the Ravenswood library did not hold a 2015 class as originally planned. According to Quinn-Carey, the library will welcome its first class in the fall.
“Addressing the pre-K seat shortage for the upcoming school year has been a priority, especially in Districts 30 and 24,” Katz said.
According to the Queens Library, the pre-K program is the first of its kind in the nation.
The new class is a welcome relief for a school district, 24, that had the highest unmatched rating in New York City last year. Only 30 percent of 4-year-olds in parts of western and central Queens got into the pre-K of their choice, according to the city Department of Education. In particular, School District 24 had the highest number of toddlers who could not be put in a nearby pre-K program. District 24 covers Ridgewood, Glendale and Maspeth, among other neighborhoods. And while Woodhaven is not in the school district, it is close enough to relieve some of the demand.
Since then the city has pushed to create more seats and this year out of the 20,511 pre-K applicants from Queens, the mayor’s office said 16,359 would be offered seats from one of the top three choices they listed on their applications.
“The Queens Library has taken one of the more creative initiatives we’ve seen to launch pre-K programs at our beloved libraries throughout the borough,” Katz said. “Our libraries are treasured, safe community hubs for enrichment and lifelong learning, and starting the educational pathway from pre-K here is a natural fit.”
Reach reporter Eric Jankiewicz by e-mail at ejank
