The L.I. Pre-K Initiative/Nassau Boces Foundation

When parents entrust their four-year-olds to a Pre-K program, the quality of the staff is the best assurance that they've enrolled in a school that will prepare their children for success in school--and in later life.  And the significant, positive impact of high-quality Pre-K has been proven by researchers, again and again. That's why The Long Island Pre-K Initiative has been offering free or low-cost professional development and training to Pre-K staff,  from all kinds of programs--school district-sponsored, community-based, church-related, even family day care operations. 

On Long Island we are struggling to offer top-quality educational environments on the Pre-K level. Only 9% of our four-year-olds have access to full-day state-funded programs (versus 100% next door in New York City's five boroughs). By supporting teachers, teacher assistants and other caregivers,  we provide them with the tools and resources to bring best practices to their classrooms, The Long Island Pre-K Initiative has been funded by grants from the Hagedorn and Rauch Foundations to undertake this critical work. Now we also need to turn to our community for donations to continue our workshops, conferences and other training for Pre-K staff.

We are reaching out through the Nassau BOCES Educational Foundation. Our Initiative has been administered by Nassau BOCES from the beginning, and is a partnership of the three Long Island BOCES and the Nassau and Suffolk Child Care Councils. Please help us create a learning community that supports the early education of all our Island's young children--including recent immigrants, the economically disadvantaged and those with special needs, but also children of financially challenged middle class families who are struggling to survive in our high-cost area.