Now that the school year is underway, Councilman David G. Greenfield and Councilman Mark Levine are thrilled that New York City finally offers half-day Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) to 4,500 children. The Council Members previously urged Mayor Bill de Blasio to release half-day seats on behalf of families citywide. Half-day UPK is the preferred option of many yeshivas which due to religious restrictions cannot operate a full-day UPK program.
“I am very pleased that the Mayor listened to our concerns and finally approved 4,500 half-day UPK slots. Parents should have an option of whether or not to send their children to full-day or half-day Universal Pre-Kindergarten. Each family has different needs,” said Councilman Greenfield.
“Universal Pre-Kindergarten should be universal, and more half-day UPK slots means thousands of children can now benefit from this crucial program. I applaud the Mayor’s announcement of 4,500 new half-day UPK slots, which will make it easier for yeshivas to participate and brings the city closer to fulfilling its promise of a pre-k program that serves all New Yorkers,” said Council Member Mark Levine.
After taking office, Mayor de Blasio expanded the full-day UPK program to provide a space for every parent that want a spot for their child. However, he also changed the requirements from 5 hours a day to 6.2 hours a day for five days a week. The full-day UPK hour expansion has made it extremely difficult for many yeshivas to run UPK while also providing religious instruction. Last winter, Greenfield and Levine called on Mayor de Blasio to immediately release a half-day UPK Request for Proposal. Greenfield and Levine are celebrating that their advocacy has resulted in 4,500 half-day UPK slots for 118 programs in New York City.
(YWN Desk – NYC)
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One Response
How does that affect us? What frum Jew woujld send an impressionable child to a public school for early indoctrination. And once the government is involved in regulation and funding, they gain control.