The Gates Chili Central School District is looking forward to its eighth year of participation in New York’s Statewide Universal Full Day Prekindergarten Program (UPK). This program is dependent on NYS grant funding, and therefore, will not be offered if New York State’s 2021-2022 Budget does not include it. 

During the 2021-22 school year, seven classrooms will be located at Imagination Childcare Academy, 230 Coldwater Road. Consolidating classrooms at one location helps to ensure that the program can be fully supported through grant funding, while also addressing space constraints in some of our elementary buildings. The New York State certified teachers at Imagination take pride in providing a high-quality learning experience for our prekindergarten students. Classes will be in session from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, Monday through Friday, in accordance with the Gates Chili CSD calendar.  Additionally, Gates Chili will continue to partner with Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES to offer Half-Day Integrated Prekindergarten at Neil Armstrong. See enclosed Frequently Asked Questions document to learn more about this program. During the 2021-22 school year, there will be 12 openings in this program (six morning spots and 6 afternoon spots). Our morning session will run from 9:15-11:45 a.m. and our afternoon session will run from 12:30-3:00 p.m.

UPK programs are available at no cost to families who reside within the Gates Chili CSD. Children who will be four years old on or before Dec. 1, 2021 are eligible to participate. Children who are age-eligible to attend kindergarten in the 2021-22 school year are not eligible to participate. Transportation is not available for prekindergarten programs. Therefore, parents or caregivers must provide transportation to and from school each day.   

To be considered, complete the online application by 3 p.m. on April 4, 2021. If the district receives more applications than available slots, a lottery will be held. Notification letters will be mailed April 9th to all families who applied.  Additional registration instructions will be provided to families offered spots.