District reports Universal Pre-K enrollment growth; providers invited to apply for 2025'26 contracts

Assistant Superintendent Camille Adamo updated the board on the district's Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) program, enrollment and provider partnership process during the March 6 meeting.

District figures and eligibility
Adamo told the board the district partners with local day care providers to operate UPK at no cost to eligible families. For the current year the district reported 265 UPK enrollments: 41 half'day and 224 full'day. To be eligible for UPK, a child must be 4 years old on or before Dec. 1, 2025 and must reside within the Middletown City School District. Families are responsible for transportation to the program.

Registration and provider RFP
The district scheduled UPK registration by appointment March 17'28; appointments run 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Maple Hill/Truman School registration and the district gave a central registration phone number: (845) 326-1300. Adamo said proposals for the 2025'26 UPK provider roster are available from Joe Kelly and are due May 2; applicants will be notified by May 23 and contracts are expected to be presented to the board for approval on June 5.

Program details and supports
Adamo described full'day classrooms as five-hour days and half'day offerings as 2.5 hours; the district provides meals through its food services to support full'day providers that lack kitchens. The district said it is expanding full'day capacity and credited provider partnerships and supports for recent increases.

Provenance: UPK remarks and Q&A began with the district UPK update and continued through board questions about enrollment allotments, provider supports and program outcomes.