nyc prek, upk and cbos

It is almost March 1! - time for the public prek applications.

UPK stands for Universal PreK - government subsidized fours programs. Your child must have been born between 1/1/06 and 12/31/06 (4 years old this year) and reside in NYC. These are programs available to everyone (not based on need). Unfortunately, there are not enough seats available for everyone. You can find them in public schools (full 6+ hours for five days) or in different private preschools around the city. The programs that are located in the public schools are free.

What is a CBO? They are Community Based Organizations. These are various preschools and daycares that have applied for UPK funds. Many of these are private for fee programs (some neighborhood preschools that you may recognize). You apply for them in the regular way (whatever applicaton, touring or interview/playdate that they normally require). The difference is that in the fours "preK" year the tuition will be cheaper than the threes tuition because of the UPK subsidy (usually a couple thousand off). It won't be free though.

The Prek directories are coming online to the DOE site on Monday, March 1. You can download the pdf or pick up a hard copy at your borough enrollment office. You will find the preks in the public schools listed in the front of the book, as well as an application. The back of the book will have the CBO's listed for your convenience, but you need to go to the individual school to apply.

On March 8 you can pick up a directory at your local Elementary school if they have a prek program.

Applying:

The application period for the preks in the public schools is from March 1 to April 9 and it is a lottery process (not first come first served, so don't go nuts trying to download the directory at 4am on Monday). The date of your application definitely does not matter as long as you get it in before April 9.

To apply to a CBO, just contact the school and follow their procedures. They are not part of the lottery.

To apply to a public prek, study the directory and list up to 12 choices on the application. I I recommend using the online app. which enables you to recieve an email receipt of the app and email notifications as well as by snail mail. There are many more ways for error with the paper app. If you do the paper app. I recommend hand delivery and make sure that you get a receipt, or send it in plenty of time in the envelope provided, so that it doesn't go missing. Also, make a copy of the app. and keep it in a safe place.

There is a priority to this lottery:

First siblings of children attending a school

Then children zoned for the school,

Then children outside the zone with no prek program in their zoned school

Then children outside the zone but within the district

Then children outside the district but within the borough

and on...

There will be information sessions to explain all of this:

3/8/10 Brooklyn Tech HS 29 Ft. Greene Place 5:30 - 8pm

check the DOE's website for other dates.

Schools will continue conducting tours through March. Check the school's website or contact their parent coordinator for information.

You will not hear about placement in the public prek programs until Memorial Day.

There are no waiting lists but there is a second round and most schools have at least a tiny amount of seats still available. I will explain this in further posts.

Helpful hints:

They love the drop down menus, so before you call me saying that you can't find something, actually answer the question. You will find that when you give specific answers a drop down may appear to take further information, like if you have twins.

If you will have a kindergartener attending your zoned school in 2010 you need to have preapplied to that school to get the "inzone sibling preference" in the lottery for your preschooler.

I can help you. If you want some insight into your prek application, I do 15 minute and half hour phone consults. Just call and I am happy to help. 718 781-1928

more on lefferts gardens

The blog Hawthorne St. did some more great reporting on the ongoing plans for the Lefferts Gardens Charter School. They covered the meeting concerning housing the Charter in PS 92 and the subsequent loss of three of their Board members.

This is important reading if you are considering this school or you are interested in the process of starting a new Charter program. It is not always a straight path.

what is up with downtown?

It has always been the case that parents in northwest Brooklyn have looked to lower Manhattan and the east side as possible options when their neighborhood schools didn't serve. Recently the old elementary standbys like the Earth School have not been able to take students from outside their districts much less their boroughs.

District 2 has long been the Holy Grail of progressive education but aside from I.C.E. it is closed to outside middle or high school students.

When the DOE announced that there were new schools opening in lower Manhattan to help ease the overcrowding there, I inquired about whether there might be a spot or two open for Brooklyn families in either PS/IS 397 The Spruce St. School or PS/IS 276. The report was not encouraging. The projections show that they are probably already over capacity. It never hurts to inquire, but don't count on finding a placement.

There was better news at the Manhattan Charter School, the only K-5 charter below Houston. They give priority to District 1 students but they often move onto their waiting list as many charters do. A significant percentage of current students are from Brooklyn and the school is very convenient to the F train - a couple blocks from the Delancy St. stop. This school which has been open for 6 years has had a rocky beginning with a total of 3 principals since its founding, but the current principal, Genie Depolo, seems to be there to stay and the classrooms are bright and focused. They are particularly interesting for their French and music enrichments. Definitely worth a tour.

Frank McCourt HS, Murray Hill Academy and others at the New School Fair

There were some brand new and nearly new programs at the New HS Fair this weekend. Many of these schools are having open houses or informational meetings. Contact the schools for more information.

The Frank McCourt High School is a screened program that will be open to all NYC students. They will be located on the Brandeis HS Campus, W. 84th St. in Manhattan. They will review students' transcripts, test scores and attendance, but they will rely heavily on the interview. They are focusing on communication, collaboration and community service. email: fmhsnyc@gmail.com 718-935-4095.

The Global Learning Collabortive is also in the Brandeis Campus on W.84th St. It was a new school fall of 2009. They have a partnership with the Asia Society. For a small school they are offering a wide variety of languages; Chinese, French, Italian, German, Japanese and Spanish. There are also opportunities for overseas travel.

The transfer schools are primarily for older students but there is  a new option for 9th graders who are not finding their way in their current school. Murray Hill Academy (111 E. 33rd St. in Manhattan) is accepting 8th graders and 9th graders who have less than 7 credits and are less than 16 years old. Contact: Anita Manninen-Felix amannin3@schools.nyc.gov 718-935-4089.

Frances Perkins Academy in Brooklyn is an interesting option. The students work several days a week in professional internships. They are focused on college prep and real world personalized experiences. fpaltic@gmail.com 718-388-7721. They are moving this year and will be located at the Bushwick High School Campus.

Sunset Park High School opened fall of 2009 in their beautiful 4th Ave. facility. They are having an open house on Monday, Feb. 8, 6-8pm. 718 840-1900.

The Urban Assembly School for Criminal Justice is a very interesting all girls 6-12 program that is accepting their first class of 9th graders. This schools is aiming high for their girls. Check out their open house: Tuesday, Feb. 23, 5-7pm room 427. Contact: Ms. Cazeau 718 438-3895 x463

It is a bit of a haul from Brooklyn, but if you are close to the 6 train, The Cinema School in the Bronx is a compelling program. For more information: Dr. Maryann Dickar mdickar@thecinemaschool.org 718-620-2560.