Assemblymen Kenneth Zebrowski (D-New City) and James Skoufis (D-Woodbury) announced that, following years of advocacy, they secured enhanced full-day kindergarten aid in the recently enacted state budget. The three years of aid will support efforts to transition the remaining half-day districts, including North Rockland and Washingtonville, and paves the way for universal full-day kindergarten in New York State.

“Statewide full-day kindergarten is now within reach,” said Zebrowski. “This funding should ensure that every kid gets the same instruction hours at this critical time of development. This will also be a huge boost to parents in half-day districts who have to burden additional child care costs.”

“This is a major win in our fight to ensure every kindergarten student receives a full, comprehensive education, regardless of their ZIP code,” said Skoufis. “Working with my colleague Assemblyman Zebrowski, local districts, and parents, our efforts ensure early education will be prioritized in every corner of our state, as it should be. I look forward to partnering with both North Rockland and Washingtonville to implement our plan.”

In order to receive the additional aid that Zebrowski and Skoufis secured, half-day districts must transition to a full-day program by the fall of 2019. In the first year, 100 percent of eligible conversion costs will be covered; year two: 65 percent of the conversion aid; year three: 35 percent of the conversion aid. The plan’s wind-down structure provides districts with both the increased aid and flexibility needed to transition to a full-day program.

“As a kindergarten teacher myself, I know firsthand how important a full day’s education is to young children,” explained Jen Teichmann, a parent advocate in North Rockland. “I’m so grateful to Assemblymen Zebrowski and Skoufis for leading our cause as well as all of my fellow advocates who helped push this across the finish line.”