Free full-day universal preschool is being discussed statewide.
With more funding being rolled out in New York, districts are now looking into launching additional programs by September.
The Liverpool Central School District currently offers half day pre-K through five community partners.
One of the programs teaches 36 pre-K students — 18 students in the morning and 18 in the afternoon.
An all-day program would mean there would be just one class of 18. Students would be chosen through a lottery system.
While a lot of details and concerns still need to be addressed, County North Children’s Center Executive Director Kelly Wentworth is happy there's a focus on early childhood development and our smallest learners.
“They’re doing so much development at such a young age. So more focus does needs to put on childcare and what we do. More funding," Wentworth said. "I know a lot of our programs lost a lot of money with COVID. And we are thankful for grants and PPP loans to hold us a float. And we are sort of the forgotten group and our teachers work really hard to give these kids the best experience and to nurture them and to grow them into the little humans they are going to be.”
Wentworth said they launched half day pre-K in 2018 with two months of planning so she's optimistic they can make this work by the fall.