SLATER ANNOUNCES PROJECTED $1.9 MILLION INCREASE IN UPK FUNDING FOR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Assemblyman Matt Slater (R,C-Yorktown) announced that school districts serving the 94th Assembly District are projected to receive nearly $1.9 million in additional Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) aid for the 2026–27 school year, supporting a projected net increase of 100 UPK seats for local students.

According to Enacted Budget school aid estimates, UPK funding across the school districts serving the 94th Assembly District is projected to increase from $8.84 million in the 2025–26 school year to $10.76 million in 2026–27, a net increase of $1,919,028. 

“Expanding access to pre-K is an investment in our children and a direct benefit for working families,” said Slater. “An additional $1.9 million coming into our local school districts means more opportunities for children to get a strong start and more options for parents who are balancing the demands of work and family.”

The 2026–27 state budget made significant changes to New York’s UPK program. According to the New York State Education Department (NYSED), all school districts can now access UPK funding, the program has moved to a single funding structure and per-pupil funding rates for 4-year-olds have increased. Districts are also able to enroll eligible 4-year-olds and receive state funding for each student served, provided program requirements are met.

“Every family should have access to quality early learning opportunities regardless of their ZIP code,” Slater said. “These investments give our school districts greater resources to meet the needs of their communities and expand opportunities where there is demand.”

The estimates also project a net increase of 100 UPK seats across the districts serving the 94th Assembly District. The largest projected seat increases include Lakeland with 40 additional seats, Brewster with 25, Mahopac with 15 and Carmel with 12.

The 2026–27 figures are preliminary estimates generated before actual student counts for the current school year were available. NYSED will use student enrollment data reported this fall to determine final UPK payments; the department has designated Oct. 7, 2026, as Basic Education Data System Day, the day final child counts are calculated for 2026–27 payments.

“This is encouraging progress, but our work does not end with one budget,” Slater said. “I will continue working with our local school districts and families to ensure our communities have the resources they need to give every child the opportunity to succeed.”