Garden City Launching Universal Pre-K For 2022-23 School Year

GARDEN CITY, NY — The Garden City School District is launching a universal pre-k program, which will start Sept. 1, 2022. The program will be run out of the Homestead Primary School.

The program is state-sponsored and not funded by local tax dollars, so there is no cost for families to participate. To be eligible for the program, a child must be a Garden City School District resident and 4 years old on or before Dec. 1, 2022.

The program is able to accommodate up to 40 students. The program will be open Monday through Friday, follow the same calendar as Garden City Schools, and will run five hours a day, five days a week. Children must attend all five days, as there is no part-time option for this program. Families are responsible for their own transportation — buses will not be available.

If there are more than 40 families interested, a lottery will be held to determine the 40 students who can participate in the program. Students’ names that are pulled after the first 40 will be put on a waiting list in the order their number was drawn. All applications received by Aug. 5, 2022, will be included in the lottery, and selected randomly. The lottery will take place on Aug. 9, 2022.

To apply, please visit the district's website at www.gardencity.k12.ny.us, and click on the link for Universal Pre-K. An application does not guarantee a child’s place in the program. After you complete the form, you will be contacted about submitting the required documents to prove age, residency and immunizations. This information will be needed to secure your child’s seat in the program and the lottery if one is needed. The deadline to complete the application form is Aug. 5. Letters of notification of acceptance will be emailed and mailed to parents with registration instructions following the lottery.

Families can contact the Garden City Public Schools Human Resources Department at 516- 478-1020 with any questions.