Full-Day Pre-K 'Game Changer' For Long Beach Students

LONG BEACH, NY — With the state setting aside funding for pre-kindergarten, Long Beach will hold full-day classes for the first time in the fall.

The $1.5 million grant will allow approximately 200 students to take advantage of the early start education.

The district has offered parents a partial program for more than 10 years.

"We received some funding from the state for that, but that doesn't even cover the total cost," Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Jennifer Gallagher, told Patch. "We've been wanting to do a full-day program for several years."

Gallagher said 30 percent of the community is below the poverty line, "so to access high-quality pre-k is really a game changer."

She said the assurance from the state is the grant will be given the money yearly, keeping the full pre-k option from being a "one-off" project.

"We certainly hope that the funding stays consistent," she said. "That has been the pattern with this kind of funding in the past."

The district will hold pre-k classes at all four elementary schools in Long Beach. Parents will have the choice of school, and the student will remain at that building through the fifth grade, Gallagher said.

Expanding pre-k will also let the district hire more teachers. They currently have nine part-time pre-k teachers and will need at least ten starting next season.

In addition, Gallagher said they are planning to hire three special education/pre-kindergarten teachers.

"The community is enthusiastic about this," she said. "We have a great model, in terms of making it basic skills but also play-based."

Gallagher said the district works with Jones Beach Nature Center and other community organizations as a "great opportunity for young students."