Speaker: Caroline Bobick, Deputy Director of Governmental and External Relations
Caroline Bobick: This year, one of the governor's top education priorities has been the expansion of pre-kindergarten. In her executive budget, Governor Hochul proposes to replace the current grant system with a more streamlined per-pupil reimbursement for pre-kindergarten students. Under the governor's proposal, the existing statewide universal full-day pre-kindergarten program would end after the 2025-26 school year and be consolidated into the universal pre-kindergarten Program, or UPK. Starting in the 2026-27 school year, this program would raise the minimum per pupil state allocation to the greater of $10,000 or the district selected foundation aid per pupil for all new and existing full day 4 year old seats. By the 2028-29 school year, districts would be required to provide a full day pre-kindergarten seat for any eligible child whose parent or guardian seeks to enroll them. This seat could be provided at a district site, BOCES, or in collaboration between the district and eligible community-based partners. The executive budget appropriates a $431 million increase to state UPK funding, as well as an additional $130 million not reflected on school aid runs. The Assembly one house budget proposal generally accepts the executive budget proposal for four year old pre-kindergarten, while the Senate one house budget proposal goes one important step further to also include language that would make transporting pre-kindergarten students eligible for state aid. Increasing the per pupil grant allocation for pre-kindergarten students and making it consistent throughout the state is expected to break down some financial hurdles many districts have been facing. However, we will more closely examine other barriers that have prohibited districts from offering pre-kindergarten, so that the entire system of care is addressed as the state seeks to make pre-kindergarten truly universal. In the meantime, we appreciate the Senate's approach to include pre-kindergarten transportation, in addition to the increased per pupil reimbursement. For more in-depth information related to NYSSBA's final state budget priorities, we encourage you to visit nyssba.org/advocacy. There you will also find NYSSBA's 2026 legislative priorities and information on other important issues we are working on. Further, you can also access our grassroots advocacy page. We encourage you to send our state budget take action email to the governor and your state legislators. The letter is customizable so that you can include stories unique to your school. And please feel welcome to share this take action opportunity with your broader school community. Thank you for your advocacy.
