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Middletown announces UPK registration, testing dates and attendance updates
Summary
District opens UPK registration (March 9–20 by appointment), reports existing wait lists for UPK, and set state testing dates: ELA Apr. 22–23, Math Apr. 29–30, Science May 7. Presenters said ELA proficiency improved from 28% to 37% year‑over‑year, and staff described attendance recovery after winter illnesses.
The board received program updates on universal pre‑K (UPK), student attendance and New York State testing at the March 5 meeting.
UPK: District staff announced UPK registration runs March 9–20 by appointment (central registration phone number provided). Staff cited current enrollment figures during the presentation—referring to about 242 full‑day slots and approximately 10 half‑day slots in the district’s UPK program—and said many schools maintain a wait list (the presenter estimated roughly 20–30 children on the wait list). The district said UPK applicants must be 4 years old by Dec. 1, 2026 and reside within district boundaries. The board also announced a Request for Proposals for partner providers with an application deadline of May 1 and a provider notification window between May 4–29; contracts would be brought to the board (contingent on state allocations) on or about June 4.
Attendance: Instruction staff reported interim attendance improvements after significant influenza‑related absences earlier in the year. Schools have been running reward‑based attendance recognition and are emphasizing positive incentives rather than only perfect‑attendance awards.
State testing: Staff shared preliminary achievement data and testing logistics. The presenter said district ELA proficiency rose from about 28% to 37% year‑over‑year in 3–8 testing results. Computer‑based testing dates were announced: ELA for grades 3–8 on April 22–23; Math for grades 3–8 on April 29–30; and the science exam (grades 5 and 8) on May 7. Staff noted paper tests remain available for students whose 504/IEP accommodations require them.
The district also described program oversight for UPK partners (monthly faculty meetings, professional development, site visits and state‑required progress monitoring) and said provider applications will be reviewed once the district receives its state allocation.
A trustee asked about the length of the UPK waiting list and curriculum alignment for partners; staff said lotteries are used when slots are oversubscribed and that the district provides curriculum support and evaluation for partner providers.
