Brewster To Offer Pre-K For The First Time

BREWSTER, NY — Brewster will offer tuition-free Pre-Kindergarten during the 2023-24 school year on a limited basis, school district officials announced Thursday.

Pre-K classes will take place on the Brewster campus and possibly other locations. These Pre-K options will be paid for with state and federal funding. The allocation of $891,537 translates to 165 seats for 4-year-old students.

"We have heard from so many families in the district who are interested in Pre-K, and we are thrilled to be able to offer it to some of our students next year," Deputy Superintendent Dr. Michelle Gosh said in the announcement.

Studies show that children who attend pre-kindergarten are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college, and that for every $1 invested in prekindergarten, the community sees a $7 return on investment through decreased public spending on those students later in life, according to New York State education resources.

Brewster has never run a Pre-K program before, mostly due to space constraints but also other logistical and cost concerns.

The district did set up a Pre-K Commission several years ago. The advisory group was comprised of parents, school staff and community members. Its purpose was to make recommendations to the Superintendent and the Board of Education regarding the use of federal expansion funds for the 2022-23 school year and beyond.

Children who are residents of Brewster and who will be 4 years old by Dec. 1 are eligible for the Pre-K program.

There will be two school year options: a 180-day program Sept. 5 through June 26, 2024 and a 90-day option beginning at the end of January and going through June 26, 2024. Both options will follow the school calendar.

For interested families, the application period opens at 5 p.m. Friday. Applications are due by 4 p.m. June 20.

When applying, families will be asked to indicate order of preference:

• 180 day option - There will be two sections of Pre-K at Brewster High School for a total of 36 students.
• 90 day option - There should be more space in January of 2024, allowing for another 18 students to have a Pre-K experience at JFK at the end of January.
• Off-site - It is possible that some Pre-Ks in the community may have availability. Brewster CSD will have this information by Friday.

If the interest exceeds what the district can accommodate, there will be a lottery to determine who will be in the program. The lottery will be held June 21. Parents will be notified shortly after that.

For click here for more information on Pre-K. The district has a useful FAQ here.

You could also contact Dr. Michelle Gosh at mgosh@brewsterschools.org or Mai Solores for
Spanish-speaking assistance msolores@brewsterschools.org 845-279-5051 (Ext. 1321).