District to offer full-day UPK; virtual lottery set as applications exceed immediate capacity

The Lynnbrook Union Free School District will continue to offer a state-funded full-day Universal Pre-K (UPK) program for the coming school year and will run a virtual lottery to rank students for site placement.

The district reported it anticipates funding for approximately 156 eligible students based on details in the proposed state executive budget. At the time of the meeting 110 children had applied; the UPK program is open to children who will be 4 years old on or before Dec. 1 of the school year.

UPK in the district will operate on a 180-day school calendar, five days a week (Monday–Friday), from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and is scheduled to begin on Sept. 4. The district will operate two sites: the JCC and Tiny Tikes. A virtual lottery to rank applicants for access to Tiny Tikes (by first-choice site preference) was scheduled for Thursday, April 24 at 10 a.m.; the district posted a drawing link on its website and said the recording and results would be published after the drawing.

Families were told they will receive email notification with next steps following the lottery and must complete registration through the district’s online enrollment portal. Although the formal lottery application deadline had passed, the district will continue to accept UPK applications until the allotment is met or no later than October; applications received after the drawing will only be considered for the JCC site.

Why it matters: UPK seats are state-funded and limited; the lottery determines access to preferred sites and informs family planning for childcare and registration. The district’s timeline and the number of funded seats determine how many children can enroll without cost.

What’s next: The district will post the lottery recording and results on its website and notify families by email about registration steps.