What is the Universal Pre-K Program?
The New York State Universal Prekindergarten Program (UPK) is funded by NYS and our district to provide an educationally based, high quality, developmentally appropriate program to prepare 4-year-olds for kindergarten. The UPK Program will run Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and will follow the Niskayuna Central School District calendar, with a few exceptions.
Preliminary details for the 2026-2027 school year
Key Dates & Deadlines
Application Window: Expected to open between late April and early May 2026.
Submission Deadline: Likely mid-May (The deadline last year was May 16).
Action Recommended: Please check this page daily starting in mid-April for the official announcement.
Eligibility Requirements: To be eligible for the 2026-27 program, children must be four years old by Dec. 1, 2026, (birth dates between Dec. 2, 2021, and Dec. 1, 2022).
Program Details: The number of available spaces and partner locations are currently being finalized. We will share these details as soon as they become available.
Who is Eligible for Pre-K?
All Niskayuna families, even those currently enrolled with the Schenectady JCC or TSL Adventures programs, are eligible to participate in the lottery for NYS-funded spaces. Limited spots are available for the UPK program and they will be filled using a randomized lottery process.
Niskayuna schools provide a variety of programs and resources to help preschoolers discover the joy of learning at an early age.
Preschool Timeline
See a list of programs available to your child from birth to age 5
Preschool Story Hours
All Niskayuna elementary schools offer free preschool story hour programs during the school year for children entering kindergarten next fall. Programs are held at the elementary school buildings and include a variety of stories and activities. Contact your elementary school’s main office for more for specific dates and times.
1,000 Book Club
The 1,000 Book Program is open to all district preschoolers, but is geared toward 4-year-olds. The program allows families to borrow a bag with 10 fun, age-appropriate books to read to their preschoolers. Once finished, families return the bag to school and may borrow another bag of books. Bags may be picked up and dropped off before, during of after school.
The goals of the program are to:
- Provide quality literature readily available for preschoolers and their families so that each child will have heard 1,000 stories before he/she comes to school.
- Help children develop a lifetime bond with reading and books.
- Provide incentives for families to reach with their children.
- Foster a positive connection between home and school.
For more information, contact your child’s future elementary school.