What is Universal Pre-K?

For many parents, finding high-quality, affordable early childhood programs can be difficult. Head Start and daycare vouchers are available, but if you don’t qualify for financial assistance, the tuition payments at some preschools may still be out of reach for many families.

One option that is starting to gain traction is Universal Pre-Kindergarten, or Universal Pre-K (UPK). UPK is a free, state-funded program for four-year-olds (sometimes 3-5 depending on local cut-off dates) designed to introduce children to the pre-academic skills needed for Kindergarten. 

Who is eligible for Universal Pre-K?

As long as your state has a UPK program in place and your child meets the age criteria, you are eligible. There is no income eligibility for UPK. Like New York City, some areas have robust UPK programs and guarantee a spot for every family who wants one— but the rest of the country is still catching up.

Spots in free UPK programs are often limited and offered through a lottery system. Families apply, usually through the local school district, and are selected at random to be awarded a spot.

Unlike the public school system, UPK isn’t limited to elementary school buildings— this means that daycare centers and preschools can receive funding to run UPK classrooms. 

Why do we need UPK?

It has been proven time and time again that the first five years of a child’s life are the most critical in terms of growth and development. Investing in early childhood programs isn’t just an investment in children; it benefits the entire family.

Childcare expenses are unaffordable for many families, holding parents back from rejoining the workforce or furthering their education. From creating jobs to lifting families out of poverty, truly Universal Pre-K programs have a considerable impact on the communities they serve. 

Which states already have UPK?

According to The Education Commission on the States, only two states, Vermont and Florida, have truly Universal Pre-K—meaning there are no enrollment caps or funding limits. In these states, every child of age can (and most do) enroll in a local UPK program. There are other states, like Illinois and Georgia, that are mostly universal and others that have limited universality. 

Other states have future plans to implement a Universal Pre-K program. 

• Colorado is rolling out free Pre-K for all four-year-olds state-wide, as well as limited seats for three-year-olds. 
• New Mexico has plans to roll out Universal preschool for all three and four-year-olds in the state. 
• New York City has Universal Pre-K for all four-year-olds, regardless of income and is rolling out programs for three year olds as well. 

Are there any drawbacks to Universal Pre-K?

Universal Pre-K is great for children and families but may not be as great for the existing local childcare market. If suddenly all the three and four-year-old children leave their existing daycare or preschool programs and enroll in state-funded Pre-K programs, that leaves childcare providers without that whole demographic of children.

The only children left to utilize the existing daycare and preschool programs would be toddlers and infants, the most expensive and heavily regulated groups to provide care for. In addition, some childcare providers only care for three and four-year-olds and would struggle to remain open without them.

This is why states need to partner with the existing early childhood programs in an area and allow them to access the funds to convert their three and 4-year-old classrooms into UPK classrooms. 

What do children learn in UPK?

Universal Pre-K provides children with a leg-up on early academic skills needed for Kindergarten and beyond. Some of the skills most UPK programs focus on are: 

• Early literacy: recognizing and writing letters (especially the ones in their name), letter sounds, beginning sight words and rhyming words.
• Early math: Counting, recognizing numbers, patterning, one-to-one correspondence, and beginning addition and subtraction.
• Social-emotional skills: Sharing, taking turns, being part of a group, self-confidence, self-regulation, and other school-readiness behaviors like raising hands, etc. 

How do I know if UPK is right for my child?

Universal Pre-K programs vary from state to state in terms of hours offered, curriculum guidelines, and staff-to-child ratios. To further complicate things, UPK programs can even vary from program to program, within the same state.

If you are considering Universal Pre-Kindergarten for your child, approach it the same way you would any other daycare or preschool decision. Read reviews from other parents, look into licensing history (you can do this right on Winnie), and tour the program to get a feel for it.