Research shows that students who attend school district Pre-K programs are better prepared for school at the end of the Pre-K year than children who do not attend Pre-K. In an effort to support parents of year year olds in the community, especially in the case of disadvantaged students, and to lay a foundation for a student’s educational journey to give them the best start possible, the Berne-Knox-Westerlo Central School District is including money in the proposed budget to fund a full day Pre-K program.
The district already offers a half-day universal Pre-K (UPK) program through Head Start with morning and afternoon sessions. That program will continue, and will work in conjunction with the full day Pre-K program.
The full day Pre-K program will cost $120,000, and most of that cost will be covered by the 1% tax levy increase included in the proposed 2018-19 budget. On a home assessed at $100,000, this translates to an extra $1.60 per month for a full day education for the district’s four year olds, along with other academic programming.
There are still spaces open in our half day (UPK) and full day programs. If you would like to register your child, please contact the Elementary Main Office at (518) 872-2030.