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City Expands Free Pre-K Dual Language Programs in 16 Brooklyn Schools

Selected schools in Central Brooklyn will offer French, Haitian-Creole, Hebrew, Japanese and Spanish come fall.
Dual Language Pre K, BK Reader
Photo credit: The Morning Bell NYC

Mayor de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza kicked off the first day of Pre-K and 3-K for All applications on Monday by announcing that 47 new pre-K dual language programs will open across the city this fall, 16 of which will launch in Brooklyn schools.

The expansion will include the city's first French, Haitian-Creole, Hebrew and Japanese classes, joining existing programs in Bengali, Chinese, Italian, Russian and Spanish. The participating Central Brooklyn schools are located in Bushwick, Bedford Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, Fort Greene, Flatbush and Prospect Heights.

"New York City's youngest learners gain so much in 3-K and pre-K classrooms across the city, and I encourage all eligible families to apply," said Chancellor Carranza. "I'm also excited to announce that we're opening 47 new dual language programs, where our students are learning to speak two languages — one of the greatest gifts there is. More New York City kids will get an early start on becoming multilingual, multicultural and ready to succeed in our diverse world."

Dual language classes are comprised of 50 percent of children whose home language is the target language of the program and 50 percent of English-proficient students, city officials explained. Instruction is held in both languages, and students in pre-K dual language programs may continue in kindergarten and beyond.

Mayor de Blasio and NYC School Chancellor Carranza announced on Monday the expansion of Pre-K Dual Language Programs.
Mayor de Blasio and NYC School Chancellor Carranza announced on Monday the expansion of Pre-K Dual Language Programs. Photo credit: NYC.gov

"We believe every child deserves the same strong start which is why we're providing New Yorkers in every zip code with access to early childhood education," said Mayor de Blasio. "By offering even more dual language pre-K programs across the five boroughs, we're readying our children for the global economy of the future."

In addition to the city's pre-K dual language programs, there are currently 545 bilingual programs across every borough for students in grades K-12. Approximately 200 bilingual programs have opened or expanded since the 2013-14 school year. Bilingual programs are available in 13 languages, serving approximately 40,000 students, city officials said.

The new programs will roll out in 16 schools in Brooklyn and Queens, eight in Manhattan, six in the Bronx and one on Staten Island.

These are the new pre-K dual language program additions in Central Brooklyn:

  • P.S. 5 Dr. Ronald McNair / Bed-Stuy: French
  • P.S. 40 George W. Carver / Bed-Stuy: Spanish
  • Brighter Choices Community School / Bed-Stuy: Spanish
  • P.S. 147 Isaac Remsen / Bushwick: Japanese
  • Kreative Kare Day Care Center / Bushwick: Spanish
  • All My Children Day Care 10 / Crown Heights: Hebrew
  • Charles R. Drew ELC 5 / Flatbush: Haitian-Creole
  • Higher Level / East Flatbush: Spanish
  • P.S. 46 Edward C. Blum / Fort Greene: Spanish

These are the Central Brooklyn schools already offering the pre-K dual language program: 

  • P.S. 54 Samuel C. Barnes / Bed—Stuy: Spanish
  • P.S. 123 Suydam / Bushwick: Spanish
  • P.S. 145 Andrew Jackson / Bushwick: Spanish
  • P.S. 151 Lyndon B. Johnson / Bushwick: Spanish
  • Brooklyn Arts and Sciences Elementary School / Crown Heights: Spanish
  • P.S. 139 Alexine A. Fenty / Flatbush: Spanish
  • P.S. 9 Teunis G. Bergen/ Prospect Heights: Spanish

All New York City families with children born in 2015 can apply for free, full-day, high-quality pre-K in the 2019-20 school year. Applications opened on Monday and will remain open until May 3. Families can find out their school district by calling 311 or visiting schools.nyc.gov/find-a-school. Families can apply online, over the phone at 718-935-2009 or in person at a Family Welcome Center.




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