• Universal Pre-kindergarten (UPK) is a New York State-funded program specifically designed for children the year before they are eligible for kindergarten.

     
    UPK is a developmentally appropriate, learner-centered educational program to help four-year-olds develop physically, socially, emotionally, linguistically, culturally, and intellectually. The program has a strong emphasis on early literacy and early numeracy to help prepare children for kindergarten. 
     

    Basic eligibility requirements:

    • must be a Clarence School District resident
    • child must be 4 years old by December 1st of the school year

    Basic information:

    • UPK is 5 days a week, 5 hours per day, 180-day program that follows the District calendar 
    • Transportation and lunch are not currently provided
    • Attendance for UPK Program hours is at no cost to families 
    • Select centers offer “wrap-around” child care outside the UPK time at family expense (contact the providers for further details)
    • Students are randomly selected
    • Eligible students must be four years old by December 1 of the school year
Children running excitedly
  • Contact information:
     
     Melissa Byrd
    Curriculum Department
    716-407-9109 
    9625 Main Street
    Clarence NY 14031
  • 2023-24 School Year

    If your child turns 4 before/on December 1, 2023, they are eligible for the 2023-24 UPK Program.
    If you wish to add your child to our waitlist, you may do so here.

     

    2024-25 School Year

    If your child turns 4 before/on December 1, 2024, they will be eligible for the 2024-25 UPK Program.
    The application will be online from March 1 until March 29, 2024.