Today, Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Far Rockaway) helped cut the ribbon to officially inaugurate Peninsula Preparatory Academy’s first year offering free Pre-K-for-All services, after the City approved their application to be a Universal Pre-Kindergarten provider. Peninsula Prep, previously a Far Rockaway K-5 school (which will now serve Pre-K through Grade 5), has been open since September of 2004. They began the progress of applying for the City’s new UPK program late last calendar year, and had to go through inspections, a certification process and construction to complete the addition of Pre-K.

“To add to the 320 current K – 5 students who benefit from this excellent, award-winning school, Peninsula Prep will now be opening its doors to 54 pre-Kers in their first year,” said Pheffer Amato. “Peninsula Prep has been recognized for their hands-on education program and its successes by the City of New York. As an Early Learning Fellow with the National Conference of State Legislatures, I’ve been studying in-depth the vital role played by quality early-child education; it’s a truly irreplaceable opportunity to get kids started on the right track. I’m proud to represent this program that does so much to strengthen our community, as it extends its benefits to more students!”