The Middletown City School District is expanding its Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program, thanks to funding from New York State, which allows local children to attend pre-kindergarten at no cost. This initiative is designed to enhance early learning opportunities for children aged four by December 1, 2025, who reside within the district.

The UPK program offers both full-day and half-day options, with full-day sessions lasting five hours and half-day sessions lasting two and a half hours. The programs will operate for 180 days throughout the school year, although families are responsible for transportation. Currently, the district has partnered with 11 local daycare providers and operates one UPK classroom at Maple Hill Annett, serving a total of 265 children—41 in half-day programs and 224 in full-day programs.

Registration for the UPK program is by appointment only, taking place from March 17 to March 28 at Maple Hill Annett. Interested families can call central registration at (845) 326-1300 to schedule an appointment. Notably, the child does not need to be present during the registration appointment.

The district is also inviting local daycare providers to apply for the UPK program for the 2025-2026 school year. Proposals are due by May 2, 2025, and interested providers can contact Joe Kelly at (845) 326-1162 for more information. Contracts will be presented to the Board of Education for approval on June 5.

During the meeting, board members expressed appreciation for the professionalism of the UPK program's staff and highlighted recent events aimed at engaging families and promoting healthy eating and science education for current UPK scholars. The district has seen a significant increase in full-day enrollment, attributed to improved partnerships with providers and the inclusion of meal services, which have removed barriers for families seeking full-day options.

As the district continues to enhance its early learning offerings, these developments reflect a commitment to providing quality education and support for young learners in the Middletown community.