MIDDLETOWN- According to the United States Census Bureau there are over 26,000 children under the age of five living in Orange County. Prior to 2021, there were very few publicly funded pre-kindergarten slots available, however, this September marked the first day of school for more than 4,300 children attending school in newly-created universal pre-K (UPK) slots in Orange County.
State Senator James Skoufis (D, Cornwall) is leading the push to create UPK slots in the region. Skoufis secured funding to create the 4,300 new slots in this year’s state budget and since beginning his effort in 2021, has created more than 10,000 slots in total. He believes the UPK program, which has largely been focused on New York City, should be made widely available to children living outside of the city as well.
According to a study conducted by Childcare Aware of America, the pandemic exacerbated a significant childcare crisis occurring within the country resulting in the closure of nearly 16,000 childcare centers nationwide. The Economic Policy Institute has reported the average annual cost of childcare for one four-year-old in New York at $12,358.
Besides significant cost-savings to families, educational data points to the effectiveness of UPK programs. Children who were enrolled in pre-k consistently have higher rates rates of high school graduation and college attendance, and lower rates of unemployment later in life.
“Universal pre-k has consistently proven effective to alleviate enormous financial strain on working parents and indisputably builds a strong foundation for young learners to excel academically and socially,” said Skoufis.
Skoufis has plans to continue to grow the number of UPK slots available to families in the coming years.
“This is about fostering an environment where families have access to the resources they need and children are nurtured to become responsible, impactful contributors within their communities,” concluded Skoufis.
