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UPK director details program delivery, waiting lists and provider mix
Summary
The district’s Universal Pre‑K director summarized how UPK, full‑day and expanded‑day grants operate, the three distinct budgets the district manages, the provider mix (OCFS/SED/4410 providers) and the district’s lottery and screening processes.
Tammy Coleman, the district’s UPK director, gave the board a detailed overview of Valley Central’s UPK operations, including grant administration, provider types, enrollment and the lottery/selection process.
Why it matters: UPK programs are grant‑funded and governed by specific state regulations that dictate program eligibility, classroom size, budget and reporting. The district runs three related grants (half‑day UPK, full‑day, expanded‑day) and coordinates slots through community‑based providers.
Key details - Grants and budgets: The district manages three grants (half‑day UPK, full‑day 3602‑g, and expanded‑day). Each grant has a separate budget and reporting cycle; state “supplement not supplant” language affects spending order among the grants. - Enrollment and capacity: This year the district reported roughly 195 UPK students across community providers; the district said that number has stabilized in recent years around 196 slots. Class sizes are capped at 20; state rules require additional paraprofessional staffing at certain class sizes. - Providers and licensing: The district contracts with five UPK providers across seven sites; provider types include OCFS‑licensed day care centers, SED‑approved nursery schools, a 4410 approved special‑education provider and a non‑public school. Each provider type follows different regulatory and reporting rules. - Selection and screening: The district runs a random selection lottery under Education Law 3602‑e. Tammy said the district will move some screening steps earlier this year and may change how screens are conducted (district‑managed vs. provider‑managed) to streamline placement.
Ending Tammy invited trustees to attend the parent information night and reminded the board the UPK application and lottery take place in late January; the district will continue to manage provider oversight and grant accounting for the three programs.
