The North Bellmore School District has announced that it plans to once again offer Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) to district children assuming funding is received from the State Education Department  (unfortunately, administrators said, the district will be unable to offer the program without state funding).

The pre-kindergarten program, which is contingent upon state funding, will begin in September 2011 and run until June 2012, at no cost to families or the school district.  Because there are a limited number of available spaces, participants will be selected by lottery. 

Children who will be four years old on or before December 1, 2011 and will be eligible to enter Kindergarten in the North Bellmore School District in September 2012 are eligible to attend. The program will take place at local pre-schools.    Parents will not have a choice as to location, and transportation will be the responsibility of the parents. 

Applications are available in district schools and may be picked up in each building's main office on school days between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. now through April 28.

Applications must be received by Friday, April 29, 2011 – no exceptions.   For more information, contact Dr. Marilyn Johnson, Assistant Superintendent, at 992-3000, ext. 4002.

Information about the program and the program application are available on the district website www.northbellmoreschools.org.

NOTE: If the state does NOT fund UPK, the district will be unable to offer this program.