Summer Book Giveaway for Students Enrolled in "Pre-K for All" - New Program Designed to Support Kindergarten Transition and Curb Summer Learning Loss

Chancellor Fariña today announced a book giveaway program for all 4-year-olds enrolled in free, high quality pre-K programs across the City. This free package – which includes five high-quality books, supplementary activities, and a letter from the Chancellor – will go to students participating in the first, historic year of Pre-K for All. Students in both full-day and half-day programs will all receive the books in addition to children enrolled in integrated special education settings and District 75 programs. The Chancellor made the announcement at Get Set Kindergarten’s stepping up ceremony in Brooklyn, where she handed out books to students and their families.

The books were selected based on their ability to support students’ and families’ transition from pre-K to Kindergarten, as well as to prevent summer loss of the critical learning and foundation that students gained from pre-K. Each book also comes with tailor-made educational activities to enhance the learning experience for the child. The activities also offer guidance for families on reading to their children and encouraging summer learning through books. All current pre-K families are receiving a package through their child’s program. The City has budgeted around $1.4 million for the program – around $20 dollars per package.

Providing all pre-K families with the tools to continue their children’s learning during the summer months reflects the City’s commitment to combating summer learning loss. The five books included in the pack are ABC I Like Me!, Count!, How Do Dinosaurs Go to School, The Shape of Things, and White Rabbit’s Color Book. Each book was specifically chosen by DOE content experts to support and build on the critical academic foundation students developed during their year of pre-K and will need in kindergarten and beyond. Individual pre-K programs began receiving their books in May and the DOE has been distributing them to families since then. Families also received a list of activities and a letter from the Chancellor, which can be viewed online here.

Next school year, there will be over 70,000 pre-K seats across all five boroughs – one for every 4-year-old in the City. Families who received a pre-K offer in June, have until Friday, June 26 to pre-register their child. Families interested in accepting their offer, must pre-register in person with their child and bring the required documentation (offer letter, child’s birth certificate or passport, and two documents verifying proof of residence).

A second round of applications is underway and all families – including those who receive offers Wednesday – are eligible to reapply in the second round. Families interested in applying in round two can find more information here. Families who apply in the second round who received an offer already do not forfeit their original offer, and students will remain on waitlists at the schools where they have applied.

Families who received an offer have until Friday, June 26 to pre-register

To pre-register families must go in person with their child and bring the required documentation: offer letter, child’s birth certificate or passport, and two documents verifying proof of residence

Families can apply in second round of applications at schools.nyc.gov/prek

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