The Rye City School District and Rye Neck Union Free School District are among only 48 out of 673 eligible school districts in New York that opted out of the state’s universal pre-K program.
In January, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a $1.7 billion expansion in childcare funding to incentivize districts to get on board.
According to data from the New York State Education Department, Rye City was eligible for about $1.06 million of funding, enough to provide half- or full-day programs for 197 pre-K children, but did not apply. Rye Neck was eligible to receive roughly $421,000, enough to serve 78 children, but also did not apply.
“The level of state funding provided for UPK does not fully cover the cost of educating pre-kindergarten students,” Rye City Superintendent Tricia Murray told The Record. “Implementing the program under the current funding structure would therefore require the district to subsidize the difference, which is not feasible within our current budget.”
Hochul’s goal is for every district in the state to offer free, full-day pre-K by 2028. But until then, any district can decline state pre-K funding, provided it notifies the NYSED and explains its reasoning.
Most New York districts have already set up programs, but Westchester County districts have been the most reluctant to participate. Fifteen of the county’s 37 traditional school districts opted out, accounting for nearly one-third of all opt-outs statewide.
A state representative said space is the most commonly cited reason for districts opting out, for both room availability in the schools and a shortage of community partners willing to house the pre-K programs. Rye Neck and Rye City both said that factored into their decisions to opt out.
“Like many school districts across New York State, our district currently does not have sufficient space to accommodate a universal pre-kindergarten program within our buildings,” Murray said.
“Rye Neck has discussed opening a UPK before, but the space issue is a huge obstacle,” Rye Neck Superintendent Michael Burke told The Record. “It is unanimous that we want to offer UPK, but everyone recognized the space challenges.”
Burke said the district is looking for partnerships with community organizations and advocating for additional state funding that could help address the space limitations.
“Parents appreciate our commitment to trying to find different ways to offer the UPK,” he said. “We continue to stay proactive with investigating all possible partners, while supporting our legislation in the pursuit of additional funding.”
By the 2028-2029 school year, Rye Neck and Rye City may not have a choice. Hochul’s plan is for universal pre-K to be mandatory for all districts statewide. Under a state Senate bill that was introduced, school board members whose districts skip out on universal pre-K funding without a good reason would be required to take early childhood education training.
“Should the state increase per-pupil funding for UPK, the district would be in a stronger position to consider offering the program in the future,” Murray said. “We will continue to closely monitor the governor’s proposals and any changes to state support for UPK.”
New York’s UPK program was created in 1997, but state reimbursement rates haven’t increased since 2008. Hochul’s plan, which is still awaiting the legislature’s approval, would nearly double state funding to $10,000 per seat for full-day pre-K.
Of the county’s 22 traditional school districts that do operate UPK programs, Yonkers City receives the most funding, with nearly $11.6 million, serving 963 4-year-olds. New Rochelle is second, with money supporting the equivalent of about 319 full-day seats.
