Queens —
City officials hoped that Mayor De Blasio’s landmark Universal Pre-K (UPK) program would draw 73,000 students in its second year, but only 65,000 youngsters have enrolled so far. Deputy Mayor Richard Buery wants parents to know they can still sign up their 4-year-olds for this school year by dialing 311, going to nyc.gov/prek or texting “Pre-K” to 877-877 for assistance.
To help get the word out about the program, which costs city taxpayers $300 million annually, Buery joined Queens Borough President Melinda Katz at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of a new Pre-K classroom in seemingly unlikely, but appropriate, spot: a Long Island City library.
