UPK is a New York State initiative designed to prepare four-year-olds for kindergarten through comprehensive, age-appropriate learning experiences.

In New York State, UPK is a State and federally funded prekindergarten program offered to families free of charge. The only eligibility requirement for UPK in New York State is a child's residency and age. UPK is not an entitlement in New York State and not all families currently have access to UPK.

Our program promotes growth in:

• Language and early literacy
• Cognitive and physical development
• Social and emotional skills

Our classes are taught by dually certified special education and early childhood teachers, supported by NYS certified teaching assistants. 

Our goal is to help our students build friendships, practice cooperation, and develop the skills they need for kindergarten and beyond.

Universal Pre-K (UPK) prepares children for kindergarten by helping them develop the social, emotional, and academic skills they need to enter school confident and ready to learn. In a natural learning environment, children explore, experiment, and interact with peers in ways that feel meaningful and engaging, building early literacy, math, and problem-solving skills while learning to follow routines, cooperate, and express themselves.

Learning through play is at the heart of our program. Play sparks creativity, encourages exploration, and allows children to build on past experiences in a meaningful way. By combining play with structured learning experiences in a natural setting, our UPK program ensures every child gains the foundation they need for lifelong learning and success in school.

The Creative Curriculum

At Alternatives For Children, we offer environmentally structured classes using the Creative Curriculum, a research-based approach aligned with the New York State Pre-Kindergarten Learning Standards. This aims to nurture children’s social-emotional, physical, cognitive, and language development while building strong foundations in literacy, math, social studies, the arts, and technology.

Social Emotional Learning

At Alternatives For Children, we use Second Step® Early Learning to help preschool agd children build essential social-emotional skills. Through short, engaging daily activities, students learn how to listen, focus attention, manage emotions, and get along with others. Using fun tools like puppets, photo cards, songs, and family activities, the program promotes empathy, problem-solving, and self-regulation, all critical for a smooth transition to kindergarten.  

We are also committed to the Developmentally Appropriate Practices outlined by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), which guide our philosophy and daily interactions:

• Creating a caring community of learners
• Teaching to enhance development and learning
• Planning curriculum to achieve important goals
• Assessing children’s development and learning
• Establishing reciprocal relationships with families